285.1773561 
IF5190 


First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Springfield,  Illinois. 

The  One-Hundredth  Anniversary 

of  the  Organization  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church. 


isgi . 

.: 

ILLINOIS  KI3KRICAI  CURVEY 


35. 177356 
190 


The  Centennial 

of  the 

First  Presbyterian 
Church 

SPRINGFIELD,  ILLINOIS 


The  Actual  Cost of  ** hooklet  is  50  cents 

the  copy  (and  postage  if 

needed).  We  are  asking  all  who  are  willing ,  to  send 
that  amount  to  MISS  LOUISE  JACOBS,  care  1st  Church. 
Any  member  or  friendmayhave  as  many  copies  as  desired. 

The  Session. 


ILLINOIS  HISTORICAL  SURVEY 


t 


January,  1828  January,  1928 

The  One'Hundredth 
Anniversary 

of  the  organization  of  the 

First 
Presbyterian  Church 

Springfield,  Illinois 

Sunday,  January  Twentywinth 
to  Sunday,  February  Fifth 


JOHN  T.  THOMAS,  D.  D. 
MINISTER 


Digitized  by  the  Internet  Archive 

in  2012  with  funding  from 

University  of  Illinois  Urbana-Champaign 


http://www.archive.org/details/onehundredthanniOOfirs 


11  f. 


Foreword. 


This  booklet  is  the  product  of  no  one,  but  rather  of  a  Century  of 
time  and  an  organization  of  people.  Without  a  splendid  tradition,  a 
loyal,  and  earnest  congregation  it  could  never  have  been  written.  Indeed, 
the  best  of  the  "Centennial  Celebration"  can  never  be  committed  to 
writing.  It  was  rather  seen  and  felt.  Not  only  the  church  but  the  city 
responded  to  the  occasion.  The  program  as  outlined  elsewhere  was  car- 
ried through  without  a  hitch.  The  church  was  thronged  with  people 
not  only  for  the  announced  public  events,  but  at  all  hours  for  the  week. 
Each  speaker  made  a  distinct  contribution  and  each  event  was  complete 
and  inspiring.  There  was  no  single  occurence  to  mar  what  was  surely 
a  great  celebration.  But  we  missed  many  who  could  not  return.  Some 
had  joined  the  "Church  Triumphant,"  and  we  felt  their  interest  and 
presence.  Others  we  thought  of  and  heard  from;  that  was  no  small  part 
of  the  pleasure  of  the  week. 

The  Minister  feels  totally  unequal  to  the  task  of  adequately  and 
properly  thanking  the  host  of  people  who  by  letter,  telegram,  message, 
presence,  handshake,  smile,  kindly  word,  and  hard  work  made  it  a  most 
memorable  occasion. 

We  are  not  sure  of  the  orderly  arrangement  of  this  material.  We 
are  sure  that  everyone  will  not  be  alike  interested  in  all  articles.  But 
for  the  sake  of  the  permanency  of  record,  and  of  those  who  take  up  the 
burdens  we  will  all  some  day  lay  down,  we  are  glad  to  make  it  fairly  in- 
clusive. We  are  profoundly  grateful  to  our  distinguished  speakers  not 
only,  but  to  members  of  our  own  congregation  who  gave  unstintedly  of 
time,  talent  and  money  that  we  might  fittingly  observe  our  One  Hundred 
Years  of  history. 

The  present  Pastor  has  been  here  one-tenth  of  that  time,  and 
Is  reminded  anew  of  the  heritage  of  the  past  and  the  responsibilities  and 
opportunities  of  the  future. 

We  breathe  a  prayer  for  God's  blessing  upon  all  to  whom  this  book- 
let shall  go. 

JOHN  T.  THOMAS, 
"Centennial  Minister." 


The  History  of  Our  Church. 

This  ''Historical  Address"  was  read  by  the  Minister  Sunday  morning, 
February  the  5th,  the  last  service,  but  one  of  the  series.  It  is  largely  taken 
from  the  historical  address  delivered  by  the  Rev.  Thomas  Logan,  D.  D.,  de-' 
livered  on  the  Seventy-fifth  Anniversary  of  the  church.  This  was  followed  by 
a  Vesper  Communion  Service,  in  which  the  Ministers  of  Presbytery  took  part, 
and  the  Session  of  the  local  Presbyterian  churches  assisted.  A  memorable 
service  and  one  which  fittingly  marked  the  close  of  the  Centennial  Celebra^ 
Hon  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  Springfield,  Illinois. 

ONE  HUNDRED  YEARS  is  but  a  short  time  in  the  history  of  the 
older  nations,  but  100  years  in  the  history  of  Central  Illinois 
covers  almost  the  entire  period  of  its  settlement.  Along  the  river 
borders  the  Territory  had  been  settled  to  some  extent  at  the  beginning 
of  the  Nineteenth  Century;  but  the  Sangamo  Country,  with  its  broad 
prairies,  was  a  vast  wilderness  which  but  few  had  explored  when  the 
Territory  became  a  State  in  1818.  Those  who  cross  these  prairies  today 
in  palatial  railroad  trains,  running  nearly  a  mile  a  minute,  have  but 
slight  conception  of  the  hardships  of  pioneer  travel.  There  were  no 
roads,  and  with  the  grass  growing  higher  than  the  head,  there  was  con- 
stant danger  of  losing  one's  way  .  The  early  immigrants  felt  their  way 
much  as  the  ancient  mariners  sailed  from  headland  to  headland  along  an 
unfamiliar  coast.  The  groves  were  the  landmarks,  and  where  the  edge 
of  the  timber  stood  out  in  bold  relief  against  the  sky,  there  was  a 
"point"  of  direction  to  guide  the  traveler  as  he  rode  across  the  prairies, 
some  of  them  more  than  twenty  miles  wide.  This  method  of  direction 
was  learned  from  the  Indians,  and  the  name  "Indian  Point"  still  clings 
to  the  edge  of  one  of  these  groves  of  timber  north  of  us. 

The  first  settler  in  the  vicinity  of  Springfield  was  Elisha  Kelley,  who 
emigrated  from  North  Carolina  about  1818,  and  built  his  hunter's  cabin 
somewhere  in  the  northwestern  part  of  the  city,  the  Kelley  Branch  of 
Spring  Creek  being  called  by  his  name.  His  father  and  four  brothers 
followed  him  and  with  other  families  of  his  acquaintance,  and  soon  a 
frontier  settlement  had  sprung  up.  Sangamon  County  was  created  by  an 
act  of  the  legislature  in  1821,  embracing  its  present  territory  and  that 
of  five  counties,  and  parts  of  six  others,  to  the  north  and  east  of  the 
present  boundaries. 

The  Kelley  Settlement  was  located  about  Jefferson  and  Second  streets. 
In  1823,  the  town  site  was  surveyed  for  Pascal  P.  Enos,  Elijah  lies, 
Thomas  Cox,  and  John  Taylor,  each  one  of  whom  had  entered  a  quarter- 
section  of  land.  The  point  at  which  these  quarter-sections  came  together 
was  not  the  public  square,  as  some  new-comer  might  imagine,  but  a  few 
feet  south  of  Washington  street,  between  First  and  Second  streets. 
Around  this  center,  near  which  a  log  court  house  was  built,  there  grew 
up  a  rude  settlement,  most  of  the  houses  and  stores  being  built  of  logs. 
For  a  time  the  place  was  known  as  Calhoun,  but  when  the  Southern 
statesman  for  whom  it  had  been  named  opposed  the  grant  of  public  lands 
for  canals,  he  lost  the  affection  of  these  western  pioneers,  and  Spring- 
field, as  it  had  been  called  by  the  county  commissioners,  when  it  was 
located,  became  its  permanent  name.  Nor  was  the  suggestion  an  inap- 
propriate one  at  that  time.  The  few  early  settlers  who  are  still  living 
tell  us  that  there  were  a  number  of  little  branches  issuing  from  springs, 


and  meandering  into  the  larger  "Town  Branch,"  which  is  now  the  main 
outlet  of  our  sewerage. 

It  may  well  be  imagined  that  Springfield  early  made  its  reputation 
as  a  muddy  place,  and  that  between  1820  and  1830  there  was  little  to 
attract  the  eye.  Peter  Cartwright,  the  sturdy  apostle  of  Methodism, 
first  saw  it  in  1823.  In  his  autobiography  he  says:  "There  were  in  this 
place,  now  the  seat  of  government,  a  few  smoky,  hastily-built  cabins  and 
one  or  two  very  little  shanties  called  "stores,"  and  with  the  exception  of 
a  few  articles  of  heavy  wear,  I  could  have  carried  all  that  they  had 
for  sale  on  my  back."  Dr.  Bergen  describes  the  town  when  he  came  here 
in  1828  as  numbering  about  two  hundred  inhabitants  and  thirty-five 
log  houses,  with  a  few  frame  dwellings,  not  more  than  four  or  five, 
painted  in  front  only.  The  court  house  was  a  small  frame  building 
standing  on  the  east  side  of  the  public  square,  with  broken  door,  broken 
windows,  broken  benches,  a  high  seat  in  one  end,  a  floor  almost  as  dirty 
as  a  pig  sty,  the  whole  elevated  on  blocks  as  if  to  give  free  rein  for  the 
hogs  to  root  under  the  floor.  (Biographical  Discourse  preached  after  Dr. 
Bergen's  death  by  Rev.  Dr.  F.  H.  Wines.) 

The  whipping-post  stood  at  the  northeast  corner  of  the  public  square, 
and  the  log  jail  near  at  hand.  The  lash  was  the  punishment  for  petty 
larceny  and  small  offenses,  but  the  use  of  it  was  soon  abandoned. 

They  had  a  strong  prejudice  against  an  educated  ministry,  and  on 
all  occasions  spoke  disparingly  of  their  labors.  But  while  the  ministers 
graduated  from  "Brush  College"  had  had  an  important  part  in  the  re- 
ligious development  of  Illinois,  there  was  from  the  first  a  demand  for 
.an  educated  ministry,  and  the  people  looked  to  the  Presbyterians  as  one 
of  the  bodies  that  must  meet  this  demand. 

The  'first  Presbyterian  minister  who  is  known  to  have  preached  in 
Springfield  was  Rev.  Eldridge  C.  Howe,  a  native  of  Massachusetts,  who 
was  graduated  from  Andover  Theological  Seminary  in  1824,  and  after 
being  ordained,  made  his  way  to  Illinois  in  December  of  the  same  year. 
He  preached  for  a  short  time  at  Kaskaskia,  and  in  other  churches.  In 
a  letter  written  to  the  church  at  Paris,  111.,  in  1874,  he  says,  writing  of 
his  experience  in  the  year  1824,  "I  held  worship  in  Springfield  and  other 
places  in  Sangamon  County;  no  Presbyterian  Church  being  yet  gathered. 
In  the  spring  of  1826,  it  seemed  expedient  to  make  Springfield  my  resi- 
dence. There,  and  in  one  or  two  other  places  in  Sangamon  County,  were 
materials  for  churches,  as  I  found  by  my  labors  of  this  year.  Pecuniary 
pledges  were  made  for  me  in  Springfield  in  1827."  Mr.  Howe  was  a  man 
of  scholarly  ability  and  piety,  but  he  had  but  little  adapt ibility  for  fron- 
tier work,  which  he  attempted  on  quite  a  large  scale,  undertaking  to 
supply  three  large  counties,  Greene,  Morgan,  and  Sangamon,  in  a  three 
weeks'  circuit.  Greene  had  two  preaching  stations.  Morgan  had  three 
appointments,  while  Sangamon  had  three  stations,  Sangamontown,  Spring- 
field, and  a  small  station  on  Sugar  Creek,  which  he  attempted  to  supply 
on  the  same  Sabbath,  la  182(5,  he  opened  a  school  in  a  building  that  had 
been  used  by   the   Masons,   on   the  corner   of  Third   and   Jefferson   streets. 

Up  to  this  time  the  prospect  of  establishing  a  Presbyterian  Church 
in  Springfield   was  not    encouraging,  but  in  the  year   1825.  there  came  to 


Rev.  John  M.  Ellis. 


Illinois  a  minister  to  whose  zeal,  not  only  this  church,  but  many  others, 
are  indebted  for  their  organization.  While  he  never  served  us  as  a 
paster,  it  is  fitting  that  we  should  pay  a  tribute  to  that  devoted  servant 
of  the  Lord,  Rev.  John  M.  Eilis.  He  was  born  in  Keene,  New  Hamp- 
shire, in  1793,  of  Welsh  origin, 
and  was  graduated  from  Dart- 
mouth College  in  1822,  and  from 
Andover  Theological  Seminary 
in  1825,  and  was  ordained  in  the 
old  South  Church,  Boston.  When 
he  came  to  Illinois,  he  found 
but  three  Presbyterian  ministers 
in  the  entire  state.  He  settled 
for  a  year  in  Kaskaskia,  and 
labored  for  an  equal  period  in 
Missouri.  In  1823,  he  made  a 
tour  of  the  Sangamo  Country, 
and  located  in  Jacksonville, 
where  he  took  the  first  steps 
towards  the  organization  of  Illi- 
nois College.  The  Jacksonville 
Female  Academy  was  organized 
in  his  home.  He  served  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  Jacksonville  as 
pastor  till  1831.  After  this  he  engaged  vigorously  in  planting  churches 
and  educational  institutions  in  this  and  neighboring  states.  As  an  in- 
stance  of  the  hardships   and   trials   of  these   pioneer   ministers,   we   may 

note  his  sad  experience  dur- 
ing the  prevalence  of  the 
cholera  in  1833.  He  was  at 
that  time  Secretary  of  the 
Indiana  Educational  Society, 
and  was  engaged  in  laying 
the  foundation  of  Wabash 
College,  at  Crawfordsville, 
his  family  meanwhile  resid- 
ing at  Jacksonville.  Hearing 
that  that  town  had  been 
visited  with  the  cholera,  he 
started  home  immediately 
alone  and  on  horseback.  In 
passing  through  Canton,  he 
stopped  at  the  home  of  Mr. 
Nathan  Jones,  who  asked 
him  whether  he  had  heard 
from  his  family.  Mr.  Ellis 
replied  that  he  had  not; 
whereupon  Mr.  Jones  found 
it  to  be  his  painful  duty  to  teli  him  that  his  whole  family,  wife  and  two 
children,  were  already  dead  and  buried.  Mr.  Ellis  continued  to  take  an 
active  part  in  educational  work  until  his  death,  which  occurred  in  1855. 


Mrs.    Elizabeth    Smith. 


While  the  organization  of  our  church  was  effected  by  this  devoted 
minister  the  impetus  was  given  by  an  elect  lady,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 
Smith,  a  daughter  of  Col.  John  Nash,  of  Prince  Edward  County,  Virginia, 
and  widow  of  the  Rev.  John  Blair  Smith,  D.  D.,  who  was  made  President 
of  Hampton-Sidney  College,  when  his  brother,  Samuel  Stanhope  Smith, 
resigned  that  position  to  accept  the  Presidency  of  Princeton  College. 
She  came  west  with  her  son-in-law,  Dr.  John  Todd,  and  after  remaining 
five  years  in  Lexington,  Ky.,  removed  to  Edwardsville,  111.,  where  Rev. 
Salmon  Giddings  organized  a  church  in  her  house.  She  wrote  a  letter 
setting  forth  the  spiritual  needs  of  the  west,  which  was  laid  before  the 
General  Assembly,  and  in  consequence  two  missionaries  were  sent  out  in 
1820.  Dr.  Todd  came  to  Springfield  in  1827,  Mrs.  Smith  still  being  a 
member  of  the  family;  and  they  occupied  one  of  the  few  two-story  frame 


House  in   Which   the   Church   Was   Organized.    The   Door   Has   Been 
Changed  From  the  Front  to  the  End. 


houses  in  the  village.  It  was  situated  at  the  meeting-point  of  the  four 
quarter-sections,  the  exact  spot  being  now  covereed  by  the  brick  dwelling 
house  on  the  south  side  of  East  Washington  Street,  between  First  and 
Second  Street,  and  now  numbered  as  116  East  Washington  Street.  This 
brick  dwelling  was  built  by  Dr.  Todd  in  1844. 

The  original  members  were  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith.  John  Moore, 
James  White,  Elijah  Scott,  John  N.  Moore,  Samuel  Reid,  William 
Proctor,  Andrew  Moore,  Isaiah  Stillman,  Mary  Moore,  Jane  Reid,  Phoebe 
Moore,  Jane  Scott,  Mary  R.  Humphreys,  Ann  lies  and  Olive  Slater. 
These  were  gathered  from  the  region  round  about,  nearly  half  of  them 
living  near  Indian  Point,  twentv  miles  north. 


The  following  is  a  copy  of  the  original  record  of  the  organization  of 
the  church: 

At  a  meeting  held  in  the  town  of  Springfield,  Sangamon  County,  111., 
on  the  30th  day  of  January,  1828,  for  the  purpose  of  forming  a  Presby- 
terian Church,  the  Rev.  John  Ellis,  Chairman,  and  Isaiah  Stillman, 
Clerk.  After  the  meeting  was  duly  opened  and  the  object  of  it  made 
known  by  the  Chairman,  it  was  unanimously  resolved  that  a  church  be 
formed  to  be  known  by  the  name  of  the  Sangamo  Presbyterian  Church. 
The  following  brethren  were  duly  elected  elders,  viz.,  John  Moore,  Samuel 
Reid,  Isaiah  Stillman,  John  N.  Moore,  and  Isaiah  Stillman,  Clerk.  After 
which  it  was  resolved  that  the  Rev.  J.  M.  Ellis,  and  Samuel  Reed,  or 
either  of  them,  represent  us  in  Presbytery  on  the  third  Thursday  of 
March  next,  and  that  the  subjoined  covenant  and  profession  of  faith  be 
adopted : 

We,  the  subscribers,  anxious  to  secure  to  ourselves  and  others  the 
privileges  and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  do  solemnly  agree  to  receive 
each  other  in  the  love  and  fellowship  of  JESUS  CHRIST,  and  walk 
together  as  heirs  of  the  grace  of  life,  taking  the  word  of  GOD  as  the 
rule  and  guide  of  our  faith  and  practice,  building  only  on  the  foun- 
dation of  the  Prophets  and  Apostles,  JESUS  CHRIST  Himself  being  the 
chief  Corner  Stone.  We  engage  to  aid  each  others'  growth  in  grace  and 
knowledge,  to  watch  over  each  other  in  Christian  affection,  in  faithful- 
ness to  reprove  and  exhort  with  all  long  suffering.  Relying  on  the  grace 
of  God,  we  will  strive  so  to  live  and  walk  before  the  world  as  becomes 
the  children  of  the  Most  High;  and  we  will  endeavor  to  promote  the 
cause  of  vital  godliness  in  the  place  where  we  live,  esteeming  like  Moses 
the  reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the  treasures  in  Egypt,  hav- 
ing respect  to  the  recompense  of  the  reward.  We  will  seek  first  the 
Kingdom  of  God,  the  Kingdom  which  is  not  of  this  world.  Admonishing 
one  another  daily,  lest  any  be  hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin, 
and  stirred  up  each  other's  pure  minds  by  way  of  remembrance  to  be 
faithful  unto  death,  that  we  may  receive  the  crown  of  life,  "looking  unto 
Jesus,  the  Author  and  Finisher  of  our  faith,  who,  for  the  joy  that  was 
set  before  Him,  endured  the  cross,  despising  the  shame,  and  is  set  down 
on  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God." 

"And  we  adopt  for  our  Constitution,  Confession  of  Faith,  etc.,  that 
of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the  United  States, 
regarding  that,  as  every  other  summary  of  Christian  doctrine  and 
discipline  drawn  by  uninspired  men  not  as  absolutely  perfect,  but  as 
being  more  conformable  to  the  doctrine  and  precepts  of  the  Gospel  than 
any  other  within  our  knowledge." 

None  of  the  elders  lived  nearer  Springfield  than  three  and  a  half 
miles.  There  were  in  fact  but  six  members  residing  in  the  town,  all  of 
them  women.  The  outlook  was  not  encouraging,  except  to  those  who 
walked  by  faith  and  not  by  sight.  A  feeble  church  had  been  organized, 
but  it  was  a  flock  without  a  sheperd. 

The  services  appear  to  have  been  held  alternately  at  Springfield  and 
Indian  Point  The  Springfield  services  were  held  in  a  log  school  house 
which  must  have  been  built  about  1827.     It  was  located  in  the  midst  of 


10 


a  hazel  thicket  at  the  intersection  of  Second  and  Adams  streets,   but  a 
few  feet  from  the  new  Arsenal. 

The  first  pastor  was  the  Rev.  John  G.  Bergen,  D.  D.  He  was  born 
at  Hightstown,  N.  J.,  in  1790,  and  was  graduated  from  Princeton  College 
in  1808,  subsequently  acting  as  tutor  in  the  same  institution  for  two 
years.  His  theological  training  was  under  the  Rev.  Dr.  Woodhull  of 
Monmouth.  He  was  licensed  to  preach  by  the  Presbytery  of  New  Bruns- 
wick in  1811,  and  the  next  year  took  charge  of  the  Presbyterian  Church 
at  Madison,  X.  J.,  being  ordained  to  the  ministry  February  17,  1813.  His 
ministry  at  Madison  continued  untnil  September  10,  1828,  being  blessed 
with  several  revivals  of  religion,  and  a  large  ingathering  of  members  to 
the  church.  His  congregation  opposed  his  request  for  a  dissolution,  but 
he  felt  that  he  had  a  strong  call  to  work  on  the  frontier,  and  the  Presby- 
tery consented  to  release  him.  On 
the  22d  of  September,  1828,  he  left 
his  home  in  Madison,  with  his  wife 
and  five  children,  in  two  light  car- 
riages, his  library  and  other  goods 
having  been  shipped  previously  by 
heavy  wagons  to  Wheeling.  The 
journey  occupied  forty  days  of 
actual  travel,  not  including  stop- 
pages. Finally  they  reached  Rock 
Springs  in  St.  Clair  County, 
eighteen  miles  east  of  St.  Louis. 
Here  Mr.  Bergen  found  a  letter 
from  Rev.  John  M.  Ellis,  urging 
him  to  come  at  once  to  Sangamon, 
which  he  did  after  leaving  his 
family  for  a  short  time  in  Morgan 
County,  where  his  relatives  had 
settled.  When  Mr.  Bergen  reached 
Springfield,  he  was  hospitably  en- 
tertained by  Major  lies,  one  of  the 
four  original  proprietors.  The  next  morning  Dr.  Gershom  Jayne  helped 
him  to  get  one  of  the  six  frame  houses  of  the  town  raised  from  the 
ground  and  prepared  for  his  family.  On  the  third  Sabbath  of  December, 
he  preached  at  the  school-house  and  administered  the  Lord's  Supper.  At 
the  close  of  the  service  he  announced  that  he  had  come  with  his  family 
to  seek  a  home  here,  not  to  make  an  experiment,  but  to  plant  with  their 
planting,  and  to  grow  with  their  growth.  He  thought  they  ought  to  do 
one  thing  without  delay:  "Let  us  rise  up  and  build  a  house  for  God." 
This  announcement  was  made  with  the  concurrence  of  the  session  at  their 
meeting  December  15th.  1828,  when  the  following  was  adopted:  "Re- 
solved that  the  citizens  of  the  place  be  invited  to  meet  in  the  school- 
house  at  early  candle-light  on  Monday  evening  to  take  into  consideration 
the  expediency  of  undertaking  to  build  a  Presbyterian  meeting-house, 
and  that  Mr.  Bergen  give  notice  at  the  preparatory  Lecture  this  after- 
noon."     Peter   Cartwright    claims   that   there    was    an    understanding   that 


Rev.  John  G.  Bergen,  D.  D. 


11 

the  first  building  was  to  be  the  joint  property  of  Methodists  and  Presby- 
terians until  one  church  became  strong  enough  to  buy  out  the  other; 
but  this  announcement  shows  that  the  purpose  to  erect  a  Presbyterian 
House  of  Worship  was  made  plain  from  the  start.  The  Methodists  were 
afterwards  given  the  let  en  the  corner  of  Fifth  and  Monroe  streets,  where 
the  Franklin  Life  Building  stood.  There  they  built  a  frame  church  which 
was  completed  a  short  time  after  the  Presbyterian  Church,  which  they 
were  invited  to  occupy  till  their  house  of  Worship  was  finished. 

At  the  meeting  held  in  accordance  with  Dr.  Bergen's  invitation,  a 
building  committee  was  appointed,  consisting  of  John  Todd,  Gershom 
Jayne,  Washington  lies,  David  Taylor,  John  Moffatt,  Samuel  Reid  and 
Elijah  Slater.  In  a  few  days  over  $1,200  were  subscribed,  to  which  was 
added  $200  received  in  answer  to  an  appeal  published  in  the  Home 
Missionary. 

It  was  determined  that  the  church  should  be  built  of  brick,  and 
Thomas  Brooker.  a  brick-maker  and  stone-mason,  was  sent  for  from 
Belleville  to  do  the  work.  The  burning  of  the  brick  and  other  prepara- 
tions occupied  the  summer  of  1829.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  August 
loth  of  that  year,  and  the  building  dedicated  to  the  worship  of  the  Triune 
God  on  the  third  Sabbath  of  November,  1830.  It  was  by  no  means  the 
"shanty"  described  by  Cartwright,  but  a  substantial  structure,  30  by  45 
feet  in  dimensions.  It  had  circle-headed  windows,  a  raised  ceiling,  sup- 
ported by  one  or  two  rows  of  pillars,  a  pulpit  with  a  balustrade,  and 
black  walnut  seats.  It  was  the  first  brick  church  erected  in  Illinois, 
there  being  at  that  time  two  stone  Roman  Catholic  churches  in  the 
vicinity  of  St.  Louis.  The  location  was  on  the  east  side  of  Third  Street, 
midway  between  Washington  and  Adams  streets.  It  was  occupied  till 
the  completion  of  the  second  House  of  Worship  in  1843,  after  which  it 
was  known  as  the  Mechanics'  Union.  A  dwelling  house  was  built  in 
front  of  it  and  occupied  by  the  Rev.  Francis  Springer,  who  conducted 
a  school. 

Many  interesting  incidents  are  connected  with  this  old  church.  The 
bell  was  hung  in  a  belfry  standing  on  the  east  side  of  the  church  and 
separate  from  it.  One  who  attended  services  in  the  old  church  states 
that  the  sexton  was  accustomed  to  ring  the  bell  for  a  time  and  then  to 
loll  it  till  Dr.  Bergen's  hat  was  placed  in  the  east  window  as  he  entered 
the  pulpit. 

Mr.  Rague  was  leader  of  the  choir.  The  tune  book  was  Mason's 
Missouri  Harmony  with  patent  notes.  Edward  Jones  was  the  accompan- 
ist on  the  flute,  and  Henry  E.  Dummer  on  the  violin.  It  is  said  that 
one  night,  when  the  hymn  "Sweet  is  Thy  Works,  My  God,  My  King,  To 
Praise  Thy  Name,  Give  Thanks  and  Sing,"  was  announced,  before  Rague 
could  pitch  his  pipe  to  "Kingsbury"  to  which  it  was  set,  Dummer  started 
it  to  "Ye  Banks  and  Braes  of  Bonny  Doon."  The  first  church  wedding 
was  solemnized  by  Dr.  Bergen  in  1832,  the  contracting  parties  being  Mr. 
William  Porter  and  Miss  Margaret  Klein.  The  use  of  the  church  was 
freely  accorded  to  different  religious  denominations. 

The  Episcopal  Church  held  its  first  public  service  there  on  the  28th 
of  June,  1835.  Bishop  Philander  Chase  was  the  guest  of  Dr.  Bergen,  and 
arraying  himself  in  his  surplice  at  the  house  on  the  corner  of  Fourth  and 


12 

Washington  streets,  the  ministers  walked  to  the  church  on  Third  Street. 
Astonished  at  the  unaccustomed  sight,  the  small  boys  raised  the  shout, 
"Look  at  the  man  with  a  dress  on,"  and  soon  there  were  numerous  com- 
panions following  in  the  procession,  thus  insuring  a  large  congregation. 
Bishop  Chase  administered  communion,  giving  an  invitation  to  Dr. 
Bergen  to  partake  of  the  elements,  which  he  readily  accepted. 

The  building  of  the  church  was  but  the  beginning  of  arduous  labors 
on  the  part  of  the  first  pastor.  The  original  organization  included 
members  gathered  from  a  wide  region  of  country.  On  the  24th  of 
May,  1832,  "after  mature  deliberation,  it  was  resolved  by  the  elders  and 
members  of  our  church  living  at  Indian  Point  and  Irish  Grove,  in  con- 
sideration of  the  distance  from  Springfield,  and  in  hope  that  God  may 
crown  the  measure  with  his  blessing  and  send  them  a  minister,  to  be 
organized  into  a  church  known  by  the  name  of  the  North  Sangamon 
Presbyterian  Church,  which  was  accordingly  done,  John  G.  Bergen, 
minister  officiating,  and  all  the  members  belonging  to  the  Springfield 
Church  living  on  Indian  Creek  and  Irish  Grove  were  attached  to  it." 
This  first  colony  depleted  the  church  of  thirty-three  of  its  members,  leav- 
ing fifty-one  on  the  roll.  Two  of  the  elders  went  with  the  new  organiza- 
tion. The  vacant  places  in  the  eldership  were  supplied  by  Ebenezer  S. 
Phelps  and  Elijah  Slater.  The  former  of  these  in  a  biographical  sketch, 
given  on  the  occasion  of  the  fiftieth  anniversary  of  his  wedding,  describes 
the  religious  situation  at  that  period:  "We  arrived  safely  at  Springfield, 
111.,  on  the  26th  of  July,  1831.  There  was  a  Methodist  Church,  a  Baptist 
Church  and  a  Presbyterian  Church.  *  *  *  We  united  with  said 
church,  and  I  was  soon  after  chosen  an  elder.  At  that  time  there  were 
but  three  male  members  living  in  the  town,  one  of  whom,  an  elder,  lived 
about  three  miles  from  the  village.  There  were  more  female  members. 
Members  were  gradually  added  by  letter  and  some  by  profession.  A 
few  months,  perhaps  more  than  a  year  after,  the  Rev.  Mr.  Bergen,  with 
Rev.  Messrs.  Hale  and  Baldwin,  held  a  protracted  meeting  of  about  a 
week,  which  was  greatly  blessed  to  the  church,  and  quite  a  number  of 
young  people  were  hopefully  converted,  and  united  with  the  church. 
Amongst  them  were  our  children,  Ebenezer  and  Jane.  In  1834  or  35 
there  was  a  difficulty  in  the  church,  which  was  finally  settled  by  form- 
ing another  church,  taking  the  name  of  the  Second  Presbyterian  Church, 
with  which  we  united.  The  number  of  the  members  of  the  First  Church 
who  left  to  form  the  Second  Church  was,  I  think,  about  thirty.  Of  that 
church  I  was  chosen  an  elder." 

This  early  division  of  the  church,  but  seven  years  after  its  organi- 
zation, was  due  to  the  differences  of  opinion  which,  two  years  later,  in 
1837,  led  to  the  division  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  into  the  Old  School 
and  New  School  branches.  It  is  unnecessary  to  dwell  upon  the  causes 
of  this  division,  which  were  removed  long  before  the  reunion  of  1S69. 
Suffice  it  to  say  that,  while  there  was  much  misunderstanding  of  each 
other's  views,  there  was  some  honest  difference  of  opinion  upon  doctrinal 
questions,  and  as  to  the  administration  of  missionary  work  by  inter- 
denominational societies  instead  of  the  church.  This  was  a  very  practical 
question  on  the  western  frontier,  where  new  churches  were  being  or- 
ganized.     Under   the   circumstances,    it  was   hardly    to   be   expected    that 


13 

there  would  be  entire  harmony  in  a  church  composed  of  elemennts  drawn 
from  all  parts  of  the  country.  Yet  neither  political  questions,  nor  even 
the  subject  of  slavery  figured  in  the  division.  This  is  evident  from  the 
fact  that,  in  1837,  when  excitement  ran  high  at  the  time  of  the  murder 
of  Lovejoy,  a  resolution  was  introduced  in  Presbytery  demanding  that 
slave-holding  should  be  a  bar  to  communion.  This  was  opposed  not  only 
by  Dr.  Bergen,  but  also  by  Rev.  Dewey  Whitney,  the  pastor  of  the  Second 
Church;  and  they  agreed  in  supporting  a  milder  resolution  looking  to 
the  ultimate  extinction  of  human  slavery.  The  difficulties  in  the  church 
came  to  an  issue  in  1835,  when  it  was  proposed  to  issue  a  call  for  the 
pastoral  services  of  Dr.  Bergen,  who  had  previously  sustained  the  rela- 
tion of  stated  supply.  At  the  Congregational  meeting  which  formulated 
the  call,  all  the  supporters  of  the  church  were  allowed  to  vote.  Against 
this  action,  a  complaint  was  taken  to  Presbytery,  which  met  at  Bloom- 
ington,  April  3,  1835. 

When  the  First  Church  was  organized  in  1828,  it  was  within  the 
territory  covered  by  the  Presbytery  of  Missouri.  On  the  9th  of  Jan- 
uary, 1829,  a  Presbytery  was  constituted  in  connection  with  the  Synod 
of  Indiana,  covering  the  entire  state,  and  known  as  the  Center  Pres- 
bytery of  Illinois,  so-called  because  the  other  Presbyteries  of  the  Synod, 
Indiana  and  Missouri,  were  east  and  west  of  it.  Rev.  John  G.  Bergen 
united  with  this  Presbytery  at  its  second  meeting,  March  19,  1829,  and 
Samuel  Reid  was  present  as  elder  from  Sangamo  Church.  In  1831,  the 
three  Presbyteries  of  Kaskaskia,  Illinois,  and  Sangamon,  called  for  the 
three  principal  rivers  of  the  state,  were  constituted  and  organized  into 
the  Synod  of  Illinois.  This  church,  whose  name,  without  any  formal 
action,  was  changed  from  Sangamo  to  Springfield,  fell  into  the  territory 
of  the  Presbytery  of  Sangamon.  In  the  disruption  of  the  Presbyterian 
Church  in  1838,  the  Presbytery  of  Sangamon  adhered  to  the  Old  School 
Assembly,  and  the  First  Church  remained  in  this  connection.  The  Second 
Church  became  connected  with  the  Presbytery  of  Illinois,  New  School. 
In  the  reunion  of  1870,  the  Presbytery  of  Springfield  was  constituted. 
embracing  most  of  the  territory  of  the  Old  School  Presbytery  of  Sanga- 
mon and  the  New  School  Presbytery  of  Illinois,  and  from  that  time  all 
our  Springfield  churches  have  been  in  the  same  ecclesiastical  body. 

In  1841,  the  congregation  had  so  increased  that  a  new  church 
building  was  needed,  and  steps  were  taken  to  erect  one  on  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Washington  streets.  The  corner-stone  was  laid  May  23,  1842. 
It  is  on  the  northwest  corner  of  the  building.  In  1842,  the  congrega- 
tion moved  into  the  basement  of  the  new  house,  and  the  main  audience 
room  was  dedicated  November  9,  1843.  Many  interesting  circumstances 
are  connected  with  this  building,  which  is  still  used  as  a  house  of  wor- 
ship, having  been  sold  in  1872  to  St.  John's  German  Lutheran  Church. 
The  contractor  was  Mr.  Henry  Dresser,  and  the  cost  was  between  $15,000 
and  $20,000. 

The  organ  was  built  in  Rochester,  N.  Y.  There  had  been  some  ob- 
jection raised  to  the  bass-viol  previously  in  use,  one  very  conservative 
member  calling  it  an  "ungodly  fiddle."  Dr.  Bergen  enjoyed  good  music, 
and  succeeded  in  overcoming  the  scruples  of  those  who  objected  to  the 
organ.      James  L.   Lamb   was   chosen   elder   in    1835,   Joseph    Torrey    and 


14 


Edmund  R.  Wiley   in  1837,  James  M.  Duncan  in   1S39,  and  Asahel   Stone 
in  1842. 

Dr.  Bergen  was  now  sixty  years  of  age.  He  had  been  preaching 
to  the  people  for  twenty  years.  Mr.  Dodge's  (who  had  come  to  Spring- 
field  as  an  Evangelist)  preaching  had  given  great  acceptance,  and  many 
felt  that  it  would  be  well  to  call  him  a  co-pastor.  The  trouble  so  wrought 
upon  the  mind  of  Dr.  Bergen  that  he  was  led  to  resign  his  pastoral 
charge.  The  majority  of  the  congregation  stood  by  the  pastor;  but, 
hoping  to  prevent  a  division.   Dr.   Bergen   placed  his   resignation   in    the 


Second  Building. 
First  Pbesbyteriab  Ciiubch. 

bands  of  the   Presbytery.     After  twice  refusing  to  accept  it,  the  Presby- 

t<  ry  at  length  consented  to  dissolve  the  pastoral  relation,  after  passing  a 
resolution  expressing  the  highest  regard  for  his  Christian  character  and 
his  efficiency  as  a  minister.  The  division,  however,  had  irone  too  far  to 
he  prevented  and  the  Third  Church  was  organized  February  6,  1849. 

This  second  division,  like  the  first,  proved  helpful  to  the  cause  of 
Presbyterianism  in  Springfield.  The  Third  Church  prospered  under  the 
pastoral  care  Ol    Rev.   R.   V.    Dodge,  Rev.   C.   P.  Jennings  and   Rev.  George 


15 


W.  F.  Birch,  D.  D.  During  the  last  of  these  pastorates  the  building 
which  the  First  Church  new  occupies  was  erected.  The  Third  Church 
was  situated  on  the  northwest  corner  of  Sixth  and  Monroe  streets.  The 
property  having  become  valuable  for  business  purposes  was  sold  to  ad- 
vantage, and  the  building  was  transferred  to  the  Second  Methodist 
Episcopal  Church,  and  moved  to  North  Fifth  Street. 

The  building  was  completed  and  dedicated  April  12,  1868. 

The  entire  cost  of  the  building  and  two  lots  was  $69,108.09,  of  which 
$3,620  was  expended  for  the  organ. 

In  the  year  1872  the  First  Church  paid  the  indebtedness  of  the  Third 
Church  and  made  improvements  to  the  building,  together  amounting  to 


Present  Building. 
First  Presbyterian  Church  Before  Remodeling. 


about  $20,000,  and  entered  upon  the  possession  of  the  property.  At  the 
same  time  a  majority  of  the  members  of  the  Third  Church  were  trans- 
ferred to  the  First.  A  nucleus  however  remained,  to  whom  the  sum  of 
$3,000  was  paid  for  their  interest  in  the  property.  The  organization  of 
the  Third  Church  was  continued,  and  it  is  now  enjoying  a  high  degree  of 
prosperity  in  its  location  in  the  northern  part  of  the  city. 


L6 

On  March  26,  1849.  the  Rev.  James  Smith,  D.  D..  was  invited  to 
become  Pastor  and  on  April  11  he  had  accepted  and  was  installed. 

At  the  installation  services,  Rev.  A.  Todd  presided  and  gave  the 
charge  to  the  pastor;  Dr.  Bergen  preached  the  sermon  and  gave  the 
charge  to  the  people.  Dr.  Smith  was  a  native  of  Scotland,  a  man  of 
scholarly  ability  which  attracted  to  the  church  many  able  men.  He  was 
the  author  of  a  noted  book  against  infidelity.  Among  those  who  became 
connected  with  the  congregation  during  his  pastorate  was  Abraham 
Lincoln  and  family.  His  wife.  Mrs.  Mary  Tcdd  Lincoln,  became  a  com- 
municant April  13.  1852.  Mr.  Lincoln  never  made  a  profession  of  re- 
ligion, but  there  is  abundant  evidence  that  he  exercised  a  Christian  faith 
during  his  term  of  office.  In  his  earlier  lite  Mr.  Lincoln  had  skeptical 
tendencies,  which  were  overcome  by  the  influence  of  Dr.  Smith.  The 
entire  subject  of  the  religious  views  of  Mr.  Lincoln  is  ably  discussed  by 

Rev.  James  A.  Reed.  D.  D.,  late 
pastor  of  this  church,  in  two 
articles,  the  first  in  Chiistian 
Literature,  Vol.  XIV.  p.  641, 
^SF-    jJJ-*  and    tne     second     in     Scribners' 

Monthly,  1873,  p.  333.  A  letter 
from  Rev.  Dr.  Smith  to  W.  H. 
Herndon.  which  appeared  in 
the  State  Journal  in  March, 
lSQ"t,  forcibly  expressed  his 
opinion  of  those  who  were  try- 
ing to  create  the  impression 
that  the  martyred  President 
was  an  unbeliever.  Herndon 
states  that  Mr.  Lincoln  seldom 
attended  church.  I  have  taken 
particular  pains  to  inquire  as 
to  this  matter  from  many  per- 
Rev.   James  Smith.  D.   D.  song     who    attended     cnurch    at 

that  time,  and  the  uniform  testi- 
mony is  that  his  attendance  was  quite  regular,  and  that  he  was  an 
attentive  and  respectful  worshipper.  He  occupied  Pew  No.  20  in  the 
church  on  the  corner  of  Third  and  Washington  streets,  and  is  credited 
in  an  old  treasurers'  book  with  paying  an  annual  subscription  of  $36. 
The  Pew  of  Abraham  Lincoln  and  family  was  for  a  number  of  years  the 
property  of  St.  John's  Church,  but  as  shown  by  the  inscription  on  it,  and 
given  on  another  page  it  was  purchased  by  Mr.  Lincoln's  friend.  Mr.  John 
W  Bnnn  and  returned  to  the  church.  Mr.  Lincoln  had  a  warm  regard  for 
Dr.  Smith,  whom  iie  afterwards  appointed  Consul  in  Dundee,  Scotland. 
Dr.  Smith  died  and   was  buried  with   high   honors  in   Scotland. 

One  of  the  additions  to  the  church  property  during  this  pastorate 
was  a   new  bell,  which   was  bought  by  the   ladies  at   an  expense  of  $1,300. 

The  original  bell  had  been  cracked,  and  the  trustees  allowed  the 
ladies  to  use  it  in  trade  for  a  new  one.  The  bell  bears  the  inscription, 
"Presented  by  the  Ladies  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church."  It  was 
the  only   piece  of   property   n  served   in   the   sale   of  the   building  to   St. 


17 

John's  Lutheran  Church,  and  it  now  hangs  in  the  spire  of  our  present 
edifice. 

Dr.  Smith  resigned  his  charge  in  October,  1856.  A  special  meeting  of 
the  Presbytery  was  called  November  1st  to  consider  the  resignation. 
The  congregation  was  cited  to  appear  by  commissioners  on  the  17th  of 
December,  when  the  pastoral  relation  was  dissolved. 

A  call  for  the  third  pastor,  Rev.  John  H.  Brown,  D.  D.,  was  pre- 
sented in  Presbytery  April  3,  1857.  It  was  accepted  and  shortly  after 
he  was  installed.  Dr.  Bergen  presided  and  gave  the  charge  to  the  people, 
Rev.  H.  R.  Lewis  preached  the  sermon,  Rev.  R.  V.  Dodge  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  pastor.  Dr.  Brown  was  a  man  of  commanding  presence, 
of  pleasing  countenance,  gentle  and  genial  in  manner,  exceedingly  com- 
panionable in  social  life,  strong  in  courage,  lecided  in  conviction,  wise 
in  counsel,  and  was  accorded  by  his  contemporaries  a  place  in  the  very 
front  rank  of  the  preachers  of  the  day.     His  pastorate  was  characterized 


Interior  of  Second  Building— The  Draped  Pew  Was  Occupied 
by  Abraham  Lincoln. 

by  a  strengthening  of  the  church  along  all  lines.  The  church  began  to 
take  a  high  rank  in  contributing  to  benevolence.  There  were  large  in- 
gatherings of  members  in  1859  and  1864.  The  disturbing  influences  of 
the  Civil  War  were  felt  in  its  first  two  years.  Fifteen  of  the  young  men 
of  the  church  left  for  the  scene  of  strife.  Their  names  are  as  follows: 
Henry  VanHoff,  Fred  Sprigg,  John  C.  Sprigg,  B.  H.  Ferguson,  Robert  I. 
Ferguson,  Fred  J.  Cotton,  Marshall  Mclntire,  John  G.  Buck,  Henry 
Jayne,  Alvin  French,  John  Bergen  Lewis,  Robert  Allen,  Andrew  Camp, 
Henry  Sanders,  Watson  Penman.  On  one  occasion,  when  the  sufferings 
of  the  soldiers  in  the  field  were  very  great,  Dr.  Brown  came  down  from 
the  pulpit  and  in  a  few  minutes  raised  $800  for  the  work  of  the  U.  S. 
Christian  Commission.  In  1863  and  1864,  the  church  was  in  a  more 
prosperous  condition  than  ever  before.     Thomas  H.   Bergen,   William  A. 


18 


^« 


Bennett,  and  Josiah  Waddell  were  ordained  elders  October  31,  1857,  and 
Dr.  Thomas  Hening,  February  8,  1861.  Two  hundred  and  four  members 
were  added  to  the  church,  106  by  profession  and  98  by  certificate;   $9,722 

was  raised  for  benevolence 
and  $18,405  for  congregational 
expenses. 

Failing  health  led  to  Dr. 
Brown's  resignation  in  1864. 
The  matter  was  brought  before 
the  Presbytery  June  29th,  at 
which  time  Dr.  Brown  stated 
that  in  consequence  of  physical 
inability  to  discharge  his  duties 
he  had  asked  the  congregation 
to  unite  with  him  in  requesting 
a  dissolution  of  the  pastoral  re- 
lation. The  action  of  the 
church  consenting  to  a  dissolu- 
tion from  a  desire  for  the  wel- 
fare of  their  beloved  pastor  was 
presented,  and  the  church  de- 
clared vacant.  Dr.  Brown  was 
subsequently  a  pastor  in  Chi- 
and  his  remains  were  interred  at 


t 


Rev.  Johx  H.  Browx,  D.  D. 


cago  where  he  died  February  23,  1872 
Oak  Ridge  Cemetery. 

There   was    no   pastor    at    the    time    when    the 
Lincoln   were    brought    to   Springfield    for   burial. 

when  the  sympathies  of  the  en- 

tire  world  were  centered  in 
Springfield,  Dr.  Henry  A.  Nelson 
of  St.  Louis  occupied  the  pulpit, 
preaching  an  eloquent  sermon 
which  made  a  profound  impres- 
sion. 

The  next  minister,  Rev.  Fred- 
erick H.  Wines,  LL.  D.,  was 
the  first  and  only  pastor  or- 
dained at  his  installation.  The 
theological  course  of  Dr.  Wines 
had  been  interrupted  by  the 
Civil  War,  in  which  he  served 
as  Chaplain.  He  was  received 
by  the  Presbytery  of  Sangamon 
as  a  Licentiate  from  the  Pres- 
bytery of  New  Brunswick, 
October  2,  1865.  A  call  for  his 
pastoral    services    was    presented 


remains    of   President 
In   that    solemn   hour 


Wine 


LL.   D. 

by  the  First  Church,  and  after  the  usual  examination  had  been  sustained. 
he  was  ordained  and  installed  October  29,  1865. 


19 


jf09^ 


One  hundred  members  were  added  to  the  church  during  that  year, 
seventy-eight  on  profession  of  their  faith.  There  was  also  much  activity 
in  Christian  work  at  this  period.  A  mission  school  was  begun  in  the 
northwestern  part  of  the  city,  near  the  cemetery.  Subsequently  services 
were  held  in  a  grove  east  of  the  brewery,  and  in  1868  an  octagonal  build- 
ing was  erected  on  the  corner  of  Carpenter  and  First  streets,  in  which  a 
Sunday-school  was  conducted  successfully  for  a  number  of  years.  The 
chapel  on  the  corner  of  Fourteenth  and  Douglas  streets  (now  Lawrence 
Avenue)  was  built  about  this  time,  and  a  Sunday-school  carried  on  effi- 
ciently for  about  thirty  years.  Several  revivals  occurred  at  this  place, 
and  many  were  led  to  the  Saviour.  The  First  Congregational  Church 
was  organized  about  this  time.  It  was  made  up  in  part  of  members  of 
the  First  Presbyterian  Church.  In  its  establishment  Dr.  Wines  took 
an  active  and  friendly  part. 

Dr.  Wines  was  led  to  give  up  his  pastorate,  after  four  years  of 
effective  services,  by  an  appeal  to  accept  the  position  of  Secretary  of  the 
State  Board  of  Charities,  for  which  he  displayed  a  special  fitness  in  the 
reorganization  of  the  various  institutions  for  the  afflicted  in  body  or 
mind.  The  matter  presented  itself  to  him  as  a  duty,  and  when  he  so 
presented  it  to  the  congregation,  they  consented  to  his  resignation,  and 
the  pastorate  was  dissolved  by 
the  Presbytery  June  12,  1869. 

The  fifth  pastor  was  Rev. 
James  A.  Reed,  D.  D.  He  was 
received  by  the  Presbytery  Jan- 
uary 11,  1870,  from  the  Presby- 
tery of  Dubuque,  and  a  call 
presented  by  the  First  Church- 
was  placed  in  his  hands.  The 
installation  took  place  the  first 
Sabbath    of   February   following. 

Dr.  Reed's  pastorate  was  a 
long  and  useful  one,  continuing 
eighteen  years,  nearly  approach- 
ing the  length  of  the  first  pas- 
torate. After  two  years'  labor 
in  the  building  on  the  corner  of 
Third  and  Washington  streets 
the  First  Church  agreed  to  take 
the    property    and    liquidate    the 

indebtedness  of  the  Third  Church.  About  100  members  of  that  organiza- 
tion were  enrolled  in  the  First  Church,  and  a  practical  consolidation 
effected  which  has  done  much  to  secure  the  prosperity  of  the  church.  A 
mission  chapel  was  built  at  Starne's  West  Coal  Shaft,  and  a  Sunday 
school  maintained  for  some  years.  The  Woman's  Missionary  work  was 
organized  and  made  effective  in  raising  funds.  The  Woman's  Foreign 
Missionary  Society  was  organized  May  12,  1871.  From  the  early  history 
of  the  church  there  had  been  a  society  of  Christian  women  who  fre- 
quently sent  boxes  of  clothing  to  Home  Missionaries.     On  June  22,  1882, 


Rev.  James  A.  Reed,  D.  D. 


20 

a  Home  Missionary  Society  was  organized  to  support  the  special  school 
work  of  the  Presbyterian  Church.  These  societies  were  subsequently 
consolidated.  They  continue  in  a  highly  prosperous  condition.  Miss 
Alice  Schumucker,  a  member  of  the  family  of  Dr.  Reed,  gave  herself  to 
missionary  work  in  the  foreign  field. 

A  Young  Ladies'  Missionary  Society  was  organized  December,  1873. 
After  the  death  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Brown,  who  had  been  a  zealous 
worker  in  the  missionary  cause,  this  organization  was  called  by  her  name. 
A  children's  band  known  as  the  Busy  Bees  was  organized  a  few  years 
later.  A  Young  Mens  Society  was  organized,  which  became  a  Young 
People's  Society  of  Christian  Endeavor  shortly  after  that  movement  was 
begun. 

In  April,  1888,  Dr.  Reed  resigned  his  charge  on  account  of  failing 
health.  The  congregation  at  his  request  concurreed  in  asking  a  dis- 
solution of  the  pastoral  relation,  which  request  was  granted  by  the 
Presbytery  April  11,  1888.  Dr.  Reed's  pastorate  was  a  fruitful  one.  Six 
hundred  and  ninety-one  members  were  added  to  the  roll,  328  by  pro- 
fession of  faith  and  362  by  certificate;  $34,418  was  contributed  to  the 
benevolence  of  the  Presbyterian  Church,  and  $41,986  to  miscellaneous 
benevolence,  much  of  it  to  the  Y.  M.  C.  A.  The  congregational  expenses, 
including  the  debt  paid  for  the  Third  Church  propertv  was  $113  200  Dr 
Reed  died  February  7,  1890,  in  Chicago.  His  remains  were  brought  to 
Springfield  for  burial. 

(The  above  is  largely,  as  before  stated,  taken  from  the  75th  anni- 
versary sermon  of  the  Rev.  Thomas  Logan,  D.  D.,  who  became  the  sixth 
minister.) 

He  was  called  June  29,  1888,  and  began  his  labors  on  the  7th  of  the 
following  October.  He  was  received  by  the  Presbytery  of  Springfield 
from  the  Presbytery  of  Erie  October  10,  at  which  time  the  call  from  the 
Springfield  Church  was  placed  in  his  hands  and  accepted.  He  was  in- 
stalled November  13,  1888.  In  this  service  Rev.  D.  C.  Marquis,  D.  D., 
LL.  D.,  of  Chicago,  preached  the  sermon,  Rev.  Gerrit  Snvder,  pastor  of 
the  Third  Church,  delivered  the  charge  to  the  pastor,  and  Rev  D  S 
Johnson,  D.  D.,  pastor  of  Second  Church,  presided  and  delivered  the 
charge  to  the  people. 

In  1890-91,  the  congregation  contributed  liberally  to  the  erection  of 
the  Third  Presbyterian  Church,  giving  about  $4,000  in  addition  to  the 
lot  which  was  donated  by  a  number  of  the  congregation.  In  1892  the 
Sunday-school  room  and  adjoining  class  rooms  were  built  and  extensive 
alterations  were  made  in  the  church  building  at  a  cost  of  about  $7,500. 
After  occupying  these  buildings  for  but  nine  months,  by  the  burning  of 
the  adjoining  building  they  were  almost  entirely  destroyed  October  19, 
1893.  They  *ere  rebuilt  at  a  considerable  expense  beyond  the  amount 
of  the  Insurance.  At  the  same  time  the  lot  north  of  the  property  was 
acquired.  The  third  of  the  following  August,  1894,  while  workmen  were 
employed  in  repairing  the  roof  underneath,  the  building  was  set  on  fire, 
and  uarrowly  escaped  entire  destruction.  Tnis  time  repairs  were  made 
-1)  an  extensivee  scale.  The  roof  was  replaced,  a  panel-oak  ceiling  sub- 
stituted   tor  the  former  one  of  plaster  and  stucco,  and  an  entirely  new 


21 


action  placed  in  the  organ  at  an  expense  of  $800.  The  entire  expense 
of  the  improvements  made  at  this  time  was  very  heavy,  but  was  cheer- 
fully borne  by  the  people.  It  is  an  interesting  fact  that  not  a  single 
service  of  church,  Sunday-school  or  prayer  meeting  was  omitted  by 
reason  of  the  injury  to  the  building  in  either  fire,  the  uninjured  parts 
being  used  until  the  damaged  portions  were  restored.  The  main  audience 
room  was  reopened  January  5,  1895.  The  tribulations  of  the  church  did 
not  end.  however,  with  the  restoration  of  the  building.  In  1899  it  was 
discovered   that   some  of   the    important    timbers   of   the   spire   were   de- 


Rev.  T.  D.  Logan,  D,  D. 

fective  and  must  be  replaced.  This  involved  the  tearing  down  and  re- 
building of  seventy-five  feet  of  the  upper  part  of  the  spire.  This  spire 
was  again  deemed  unsafe  and  finally  removed  in  1916.  rebuilt  much 
lower,  as  rectangular  tower  in  1926.  In  1894  a  handsome  window  in 
memory  of  Mrs.  McKee  Holmes  was  placed  in  the  church  by  the  gradu- 
ates of  the  Bettie  Stuart  Institute  of  which  she  was  the  principal  for 
many  years.  On  account  of  its  very  delicate  coloring  it  was  placed  in 
a  northern  light.  Subsequently  two  other  handsome  windows  were 
placed  on  the  south  side,  one  in  memory  of  Mr.  Benjamin  S.  Edwards, 
and  the  other  in  memory  of  Mrs.  .Sarah  Irwin  Ferguson,  Mrs.  Elizabeth 


Ferguson  Bunn.  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Bunn  Jones,  grandmother,  mother  and 
daughter,  who  had  been  faithful  members  of  this  church.  Still  later 
other  windows  in  keeping  with  the  first,  and  rarely  beautiful,  were  in- 
stalled and  dedicated  to  the  Stuve  and  Brown  families.  A  complete  list 
of  the  windows  is  found  en  another  page. 

In  the  year  1892-3,  the  lot  on  which  the  mission  chapel  stood 
on  the  corner  of  Fourteenth  Street  and  Lawrence  Avenue,  was  sold,  and 
with  the  proceeds,  and  other  contributions,  the  building  was  moved  to 
a  lot  donated  for  the  purpose  on  the  corner  of  Capitol  and  Wheeler 
avenues  in  East  Springfield.  This  is  now  the  Fifth  Presbyterian  Church 
of  which  the  Rev.  Abram  G.  Bergen.  D.  D.,  is  Minister. 

In  closing  his  comments  on  his  own  pastorate  Dr.  Logan  said- 
"The  earlier  records  of  the    church    have    many    omissions,    and    doubt- 


Interiob  of  the  Present  Beildixg. 


less  many  names  were  never  recorded;  but  so  far  as  reported.  2,057 
communicants  have  been  enrolled,  1,054  received  by  profession  of  faith 
and  1,003  by  certificate.  The  aggregate  contributions  reported  for  Home 
Missions  have  been  $2o,19o.  for  Foreign  Missions  $26,875,  for  the  other 
benevolences  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  $40,114,  for  benevolence  outside 
of  the  church  $59,942.  a  total  of  $147,121.  The  congregational  expenses 
were  not  reported  till  1852.  Since  that  time  $240,582  have  been  raised 
and  expended  for  ihe  support  of  the  church.  The  grand  total  of  money 
reported  i  and  with  unreported  offerings  must  be  considerably 

more  than   $400,000. 

Figures,  however,  give  but  a  slight  idea  of  the  real  work  and  in- 
fluence of  a  church.  We  are  not  here  to  boast  of  ourselves.  We  have 
no  disposition  to  claim  an  undue  share  in  the  religious  work  that  has 
been    prosecuted    in    Springfield     in     three-quarters     of     a     centurv.      We 


23 

rejoice  that  we  have  been  workers  together  with  our  brethren  of  our 
own  and  other  denominations,  and  trust  that  we  have  all  been  workers 
together  with  God.  If  this  historical  review  has  the  effect  of  showing 
to  the  generations  to  come  the  praises  of  the  Lord,  and  His  strength, 
and  the  wonderful  works  that  He  has  done,  we  feel  confident  that, 
trusting  in  the  same  Divine  power,  far  more  efficient  work  will  be 
done  in  the  name  of  the  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  To  Him  be  all  the  glory. 
Amen!" 

The  above  is,  as  has  been  said,  largely  from  Dr.  Logan's  own  hand. 
Following  this,  he  completed  twenty-five  full  years  as  pastor.  He  has 
well  said  that  "figures  give  but.  a  slight  idea  of  the  real  work  and  influ- 
ence of  a  church."  Of  no  one  is  this  more  strictly  true  than  of  Dr. 
Logan  and  his  pastorate.  The  impress  of  his  unusual  character  is  mani- 
fest in  the  life  of  the  church,  not  only,  but  of  the  city  and  Synod.  Daily 
are  those  encountered  who  pay  tribute  to  the  power  of  his  example  and 
the  strength  of  his  pulpit  work.  He  was  sturdy  and  unwavering  in  his 
faith,  but  charitable  toward  all.  The  writer  deems  it  an  inestimable 
privilege  to  have  "entered  into  his  labors."  He  laid  a  foundation  not  in 
stone,  but  in  Christian  faith.  He  erected  "Temples  within"  which  will 
endure  for  all  time. 

Xo  word  said  of  his  work  would  be  in  any  sense  complete,  without 
including  a  reference  at  least  to  the  high  esteem  in  which  his  family  was 
and  is  held.  Mrs.  Logan,  with  Miss  Elsie,  makes  her  home  in  Springfield; 
Elizabeth  and  Howard  live  in  Chicago  and  Marjorie  in  Milwaukee. 
Rarely  is  it  given  to  a  group  to  hold  a  more  sacred  place  in  the  hearts  of 
others  than  that  held  by  Mrs.  Logan  and  family. 

Dr.  Logan  died  April,  1921.     His  funeral  was   from  his   own  pulpit 

and  his  body  laid  to  rest  with  his  honored  forefathers  in  Pittsburgh,  Pa. 

Following  Dr.  Logan's  resignation,  the  church  called  the  Rev.  Donald 

C.  McLeod,  D.  D.,  another  Scotchman,  who  had  for  fourteen  years  been 
the    aggressive    pastor    of    the    First  Presbyterian  Church,  Washington, 

D.  C.  Dr.  McLeod  was  born  in  Nova  Scotia,  graduated  from  Western 
Seminary  and  had  held  pastorate  in  Meadville,  Pa.  (Dr.  Logan's  former 
pastorate.)  He  came  to  Springfield  in  the  vigor  of  a  splendid,  well- 
rounded  manhood;  entered  most  actively  into  the  entire  life  of  the 
church  and  city.  His  work  cannot  be  wisely  appraised  by  the  present 
incumbent,  but  is  gratefully  appreciated.  It  may  be  safely  said,  however, 
that  his  greatest  emphasis  was  in  the  Sunday  School,  not  only  in  his 
own  church  but  in  the  city  and  county.  He  not  only  enlisted  the  en- 
thusiastic support  of  an  able  corps  of  officers  and  workers,  but  himself 
taught  a  splendid  class  of  younger  men. 

Among  the  material  changes  which  may  be  recorded  during  his 
pastorate  are  the  rebuilding  of  the  gallery  and  the  installing  of  the 
matchless  organ. 

Resigning  in  December,  1917,  Dr.  MacLeod  accepted  the  pastorate  of 
the  Central  Presbyterian  Church,  Saint  Louis.  From  there,  he  went  to 
the  Dundee  Church,  Omaha,  from  which  by  invitation  of  the  Session,  he 
came  to  occupy  the  pulpit  on  Home  Coming  Sunday.  The  writer  in 
studying  the  pictures,  reading  the  records,  coming  to  understand  some- 


24 


thing  of  the  viewpoint  and  characteristics  of  the  seven  men  who  have 
preceded  him,  is  impressed  with  their  marked  dissimilarity.  Each  made 
his  own  indelible  impression;  met  the  problems  of  his  "day  and  gen- 
eration" with  insight,  peculiarly  his  own.  Each  could  well  be  called  an 
"unusual  personality."  But,  truly,  while  the  work,  the  emphasis,  the 
method  of  each  was  markedly  different,  each  from  the  other,  all  were 
servants  of  the  Lord. 

But  nothing  impresses  one  more  in  publishing  this  than  its  total  in- 
adequacy.    This,  in  spite  of  the  fact  that  so  much  of  it  is  the  work  of 

Dr.  Logan  (and  no  one  of  all 
could  do  this  work  so  well  as 
he). 

What  of  the  officers  and  mem- 
bers! Only  the  fact  that  the 
Pastors  have  been  few  in  num- 
ber and  the  brief  record  of  their 
life's  work  possible,  makes  the 
publishing  of  this  booklet  justi- 
fiable. Certainly,  no  one  of 
them  would  claim  a  larger  share 
in  "This  Ministry"  than  that  ac- 
complished by  a  host  of  men 
and  women,  who  have  been 
worthy  "yoke-fellows."  Each 
Pastor  loved  the  church  dearly. 
That  can  but  mean  that  each 
one  saw  many  noble  Christian 
people,  loyally  and  lovingly 
striving  to  do  his  part.  What 
an  army  has  been  in  the  hun- 
dred years,  in  the  language  of 
the  fathers  "transferred  to  the 
Church  Triumphant;"  men  and 
women  having  completed  a  long 
and  useful  life;  others  taken  in 
the  midst  of  the  fray,  when  they  seemed  so  necessary;  still  others  wnen 
it  seemed  all  of  life  was  before  them.  The  suffering  it  has  all  meant! 
And  the  comfort 
not  a  homily. 

In  approaching  the  task  of  completing  the  booklet  by  reference  to 
the  present  pastorate;  the  writer  is  humbled  indeed.  This,  it  seems  is 
the  uppermost  thought,  "I  wonder  if  when  life  is  done  and  the  final 
record  made  it  will  all  look  like  that!"  The  cheering  thing,  however,  is 
the  splendid  hope  that  He  will  have  a  few  facts,  not  elsewhere  recorded. 
A  few  things  which  the  historian  of  one  hundred  years  hence  may 
be  mildly  interested  in  is  that  the  Pastor  of  the  church  when  the  church 
celebrated  its  Centennial  was  a  Welshman  on  his  father's  side  and  Scotch- 
Irish  on  his  mother's;  that  he  was  born  in  Tennessee,  educated  in  Sweet- 
water Prep  School,  King  College  and  McCormick  Seminary,  Chicago.  Held 
pastorates  in  First    Presbyterian  Church,  Canon  City,  Colo.,  Westminster 


Rev.  Doxald  C.  AIcLeod,  D.  D. 


But  this  must  be  an  attempt  at  least  at  history  and 


25 


Presbyterian  Church,  Grand  Rapids,  Mich..,  and  First  Presbyterian 
Church,  Louisville,  Ky.;  that  he  was  called  to  Springfield  in  March,  1918. 
and  began  his  work  in  the  following  September.  During  this  period, 
under  the  able  leadership  of  the  officers,  the  entire  plant,  with  the  ex- 
ception of  the  auditorium,  was  razed  and  rebuilt,  improvements  were 
made  in  the  auditorium;  the  Manse  was  purchased;  a  church  secretary 
was  employed  (Miss  Mary  Murphy,  1920-1925,  and  Miss  Louise  Jacobs. 
1925-1928)  and  for  one  year  the  Rev.  Abram  G.  Bergen,  D.  D.,  great- 
nephew  of  Dr.  Bergen  was  assistant  pastor.     The  great  spires,  which  had 


Dr.  John  T.  Thomas. 


previously  been  taken  down  were  rebuilt,  much  lower.  The  budget  more 
than  doubled.  With  all  gratitude,  it  may  be  said,  we  do  not  feel  that  we 
have  reached  the  decrepitude  of  old  age.  We  are  living  as  a  Christian 
church  must  ever  live,  with  the  self  renewing  vigor  of  eternal  youth. 
Our  task  is  perhaps  somewhat  different,  our  faith  may  find  its  own  ex- 
pression, but  it  is  the  same  faith;  that  God  has  revealed  Himself  and  His 
will  to  us  in  the  person  and  work  of  Jesus  Christ.  In  the  light  of  His 
revelation,  the  strength  of  His  spirit,  the  joy  of  His  companionship,  we 
begin  the  new  century. 

JOHN  T.  THOMAS,   Minister. 


26 


Woman's  Work* 

The  newest  woman's  organization  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
is  the  "Woman's  Auxiliary"  and  the  membership  consists  of  every 
woman  in  the  church.  The  following  officers,  circle  leaders  and  chair- 
men of  committees  form  the  executive  council: 

President — Mrs.  Charles  D.  Wright. 

First   Vice   President — Mrs.   Henry   Child. 

Second  Vice  President — Mrs.  Frank  Ide. 

Recording  Secretary— Mrs.  E.  C.  Whittaker. 

Corresponding  Secretary — Miss  Alice  Orendorff. 

Treasurer — Mrs.  W.  L.  Laird. 

Circle  Leaders— Mesdames  Leigh  Call,  George  Williams,  E.  R.  Tal- 
bott,  Hazel  Larrimore,  Lauretta  Booth,  James  A.  Day,  Frank  Partridge, 
Homer  Macnamara,  Albert  T.  Rankin  and  John  T.  Thomas. 

Chairman  of  Committees— Mesdames  William  McKenzie,  Edward 
Brown,  A.  D.  Mackie,  Alexander  Macpherson,  A  L.  Bowen,  Alonzo  Hoff, 
J.  A.  Lindquist  and  Mrs.  Arthur  Kuster. 

The  Woman's  Auxiliary  took  an  important  part  in  the  celebration  of 
the  One  Hundredth  Anniversary  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of 
Springfield,  Illinois. 

On  Monday  evening  a  "Homecoming  Reception"  was  held  in  the 
newly  decorated  parlors  of  the  church.  The  following  were  in  the  re- 
ceiving line:  Dr.  and  Mrs.  John  T.  Thomas  (present  pastor  and  his 
wife);  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Donald  C.  MacLeod  (only  former  living  pastor,  and 
wife);  Mrs.  Thomas  D.  Logan  (whose  husband  was  pastor  for  25  years); 
Mrs.  Laura  Carson  and  descendants   of  pastors'  families. 

Descendants  of  Dr.  Bergen:  Harry  Allen.  Miss  Fanny  Allen.  Rev. 
Abram  Bergen,  Miss  Addie  Bell. 

Descendants  of  Dr.  Wines:  Miss  Mary  Wines.  Miss  Emma  Wines. 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  William  St.  John  Wines,  William  St.  John  Wines,  Jr.,  Edna 
Frances  Wines.  Mrs.  William  S.  Little,  Frederick  Howard  Little. 

Descendants  of  Dr.  Smith:  Brainard  H.  Smith,  Miss  Jeannette 
Smith.  Mrs.  Ninian  Wirt  Edwards,  Leigh  Bruce  Smith.  Miss  Helen  Janet 
Smith.  Edward  C.  Smith. 

Descendants  of  Dr.  Brown:  Mrs.  Harry  B.  Owsley.  Howard  Brown, 
Mrs.  Stuart  Green,  Mrs.  Robert  Stevens,  Mrs.  Edward  Fishwick.  Mrs. 
W.  B.  Bus  worth,  Miss  Sally  Brown,  Mrs.  Harriet  Gait,  Miss  Mary  E. 
Brown,  Mrs.  Harrison  Foster,  John  Howe  Brown,  Miss  Harriet  J. 
Brown,  .Mrs.  Ann  Simpson.  Mrs.  Charles  TalDOtt,  Harmon  Brown,  Mrs. 
Frank   P.   Ide.  Owsley    Brown,   Grafton   Brown. 

Descendants  ol  Dr.  Logan:  Mrs.  Thomas  D.  Logan,  Howard  Logan, 
Miss   Elizabeth  Logan,  .Miss  Marjorie  Logan,  Miss  Elsie  Logan. 

Special  guestfl  of  honor  were  the  following  descendants  of  the  first 
members    of    the    church:       Mrs.    May    Grimsley    Donaldson,    great    grand- 


27 

daughter  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Smith,  in  whose  home  the  church  was 
organized. 

Descendants  of  Mrs.  Washington  lies:  Kate  L.  Herndon — Lewis 
Herndon,  Richard  F.  Herndon,  John  W.  Herndon;  W.  T.  Lewis,  Mary 
Lewis.  Philomen  Lewis,  Mrs.  A.  S.  Hay;  Stuart  Broadwell — Dr.  Stuart 
Broadwell,  Norman  Broadwell,  Latham  Broadwell;  Mrs.  Harris  Hickox — 
Mrs,  P.  Pickering,  Mrs.  O.  Moor,  H.  Hickox,  Norman  Hickox,  Mrs.  Fran- 
ces Biedler,  Robert  Loose,  Mrs.  Carrie  Barrick.  Mrs.  John  Norris,  Mrs. 
Charles  Clark,  William  lies,  B.  lies,  Betty  Broadwell,  fifth  generation 
of  Latham  family  in  church;  Sarah  Bunn,  fifth  generation;  George  W. 
Bunn,  third  generation. 

The  host  and  hostesses  were  the  officers,  deacons,  trustees  and  their 
wives  as  follows: 

Mr.  and  Mrs.  Isaac  R.  Diller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  H.  M.  Thrasher,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Harry  P.  Jones,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  Edgar  Sampson,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Julian  Vallette,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  L.  Pickering,  Thomas  Condell,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Shelby  C.  Dorwin,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Frank  McKelvey,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
E.  N.  Majors,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  J.  C.  Hanna,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  H.  Rankin, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Alexander  MacPherson,  C.  G.  Todd,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  0. 
Miller,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Benjamin  F.  Cassiday,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  C.  Whit- 
taker,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  I.  Woodworth,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Paul  Pickering, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Butts,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  C.  M.  Fox,  Robert  Hudson,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  Herman  C.  Helmle,  Harold  George,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  C.  B.  Stuart, 
Mr.  and  Mrs.  E.  S.  Boyd,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  A.  L.  Stoddard,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Ross  Weller,  Dr.  and  Mrs.  Ogden  Munroe,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  J.  Krog- 
dahl,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  George  W.  Bunn,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Corwine  Roach,  Mr. 
and  Mrs.  John  H.  Sikes,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Robert  Troxell,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Emmett  V.  Poston,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Clayton  Barber,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  R.  C. 
Lanphier,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  L.  Catron. 

A  special  feature  of  the  evening  was  an  historical  display  of  docu- 
ments and  relics  connected  with  the  hundred  years  history  of  the 
church.  Miss  Alice  Orendorf,  Mrs.  John  C.  Cook,  Miss  Sallie  Brown  and 
Mr.  Isaac  Diller  were  in  charge  of  the  display. 

HISTORICAL  EXHIBIT. 

One  of  the  attractive  features  of  Centennial  week  was  the  Historical 
Exhibit  held  Monday  evening  at  the  Home  Coming  Reception,  and  on 
Tuesday  afternoon,  when  the  Woman's  Auxiliary  officers  and  representa- 
tives of  all  the  woman's  organizations  of  the  church,  received  as  their 
guests  the  members  of  other  churches  as  well  as  our  own  congregation. 

Many  interesting  articles  and  documents  were  collected  from  the 
families  who  had  long  been  connected  with  local  church  history.  A 
closed  glass  case  was  furnished  by  Mrs.  R.  F.  Herndon,  one  of  the  com- 
mittee, in  which  was  placed  the  miniatures,  daguerreotypes,  and  some 
of  the  rare  pieces  on  exhibit.  The  communion  service  used  in  our 
church  for  over  ninety  years  was  shown,  it  consisted  of  a  tray,  a  tall 
silver  pitcher  and  two  silver  cups  on  which  the  date  1837  was  marked 
three  silver  cups  were  added  at  a  later  date. 


28 

The  Session  books  containing  church  history  from  the  earliest  times 
down  to  the  present  were  on  the  table,  also  three  programs  of  dedica- 
tion services  are  worthy  of  mention. 

The  Soldiers'  Memorial  Tablet  was  unveiled  November  16,  1919.  On 
the  Roll  of  Honor  are  one  hundred  and  five  names  of  young  men  and 
women,  who  gave  their  service  to  their  country  in  the  Worlds  War. 
Gov.  Frank  O.  Lowden  made  the  address.  The  committee  on  Memorial 
Tablet  were  Mr.  G.  W.  Wilson,  chairman;  Mrs.  Stuart  Broadwell,  Mr. 
Stuart  Brown,  Mr.  J.  F.  Macpherson,  Mr.  George  Bunn,  Mrs.  Arthur 
Prince. 

The  dedication  of  Logan  Chapel  took  place  Sunday,  February  22, 
1920.  The  Memorial  Tablet  on  the  north  wall  of  the  church  was  pre- 
sented on  January  21,  1922.  In  responce  Dr.  Thomas  said:  "This  slab 
of  marble  on  which  are  engraved  the  names  of  the  ministers  of  this 
church  for  these  nearly  one  hundred  years,  will  be  held  and  valued 
as  a  sacred  memorial  for  all  time." 

LIST  OF   ARTICLES. 
Foot  stove  used  by  President  J^incoln  when  he  attended  church. 
Picture  of  Mrs.  Lincoln's  funeral,  held  in  this  church  in  1882. 

Lent  by  State  Historical  Society. 
Mrs.  Lincoln's  black  lace  shawl  and  comb  worn  at  Inaugurial  Ball.    Mrs. 

Lincoln  was  a  member  of  this  church  from  1852  to  1882. 
Miniature  of  Mrs.   Elizabeth  Smith,   in  whose  house  the  church  was  or- 
ganized. 

Lent  by  Mrs.  May  Grimsley  Donelson. 
Miniature  of  Mrs.   Caroline   Owsley   Brown,   and   two   pictures   of  Mr.   C. 
C.  Brown. 

Lent  by  Mrs.  Frank  P.   Ide. 
Photograph  of  Mrs.  John  T.   Stuart  and  her  lace  fan. 

Lent  by  Mrs.  Edwards  Brown. 
Painting  on  glass  of  Mrs.  James  L.  Lamb. 
Lent  by  Mrs.  Susan  Cook  House. 
Autograph  book  and  picture  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian 

Church   held    in    Springfield   in   1882. 
Photographs  of  Mrs.  B.  S.  Edwards  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  B.  H.  Ferguson. 

Lent  by  Miss  Eliza  Condell. 
Church  Directory  of  1864.     Photograph  of  Mr.  Roland   Diller. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Isaac  Diller. 
Church  Year  Books,  published  by  Dr.  T.  D.  Logan  from  1891  to  1912. 
Two  Church   Directories,   1867  and   1878. 

Lent  by  Miss  Clara   Miller. 
Picture  of  North  Sangamon  Church  at  Indian  Point,  which  congregation 

joined  with  Springfield  in  the  organization  of  the  church. 
Photograph  of  Dr.  D.  G.  Carson,  for  twenty  years   pastor  of  this  church. 

Lent  by  Mrs.  D.  C.  Carson. 
Daguerreotypes  of  Mr.   John    \V.    Dalbey  and    Mrs.    Hannah    Dalbey 
Elijah  lies1  book  on    Early  Times  in  Springfield. 

Lent  by  Miss  Alice  Dalbey. 
Photograpli  of  Mrs.  Ann    lies  and  five  generations  of  the  Lewis  family. 
Lent  by   Mrs.   Herndon  and  Miss  Mary  Lewis. 


29 

Mrs.  Stuart  Broadwell  and  Mr.  Jacob  Bunn's  families  also  have  five  gen- 
erations of  church  members  on  the  records. 
Scrap  Book  of  church  history,  kept  by  Mr.  George  Hemenway  and  Pho- 
tograph of  Mr.  Hemenway. 

Lent  by  Miss  Nelie  Hemenway. 
Photographs    of   Dr.   and   Mrs.    James    Reed,    Rev.    and    Mrs.    John    Howe 
Brown,  and  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Grimsley  Brown,  his  second  wife,  and  also 
picture  of  Mrs.  Catherine  Bergan  Jones  taken  on  her  87th  birthday. 
Lent  by  Miss  Sallie  Brown. 
Sunday  School  Record,  1868. 

Lent  by  Mrs.  Alfred  Booth. 
Deguarreotype  of  Dr.  John  G.  Bergen. 

Lent  by  Mr.  Henry  Allen  and  Miss  Fanny  Allen. 
Photograph  of  Mrs.  Elizabeth  Moore,  one  of  the  church  organizers. 

Lent  by  Mrs.  Edna  Orendorff  Macpherson. 
Miss   Jeanette  E.   Smith   and  Mrs.  N.   Wirt  Edwards  lent  the  following 

articles: 
List  of  Church  officers  and  members  in  1843. 
Deed  of  William  Harrower  of  perpetual  ownership  of  pew  No.  58,  in  the 

old  church  dated  1849. 
Deguarreotype  and   Sunday  School  class  book  of  Miss  Agnes   Harrorer, 

1863. 
The  Christians  Defense,  by  Dr.  James  Smith,  1843,  a  book  which  influ- 
enced President  Lincoln. 
A  letter  from  Willie  Lincoln  to  Henry  Remann,  dated  1861. 
Lent  by  Mr.  N.  Wirt  Edwards. 
Committee  on  Historical  Exhibit: 
Miss  Alice  E.  Orendorff,  Chairman. 
Mrs.  John  C.  Cook. 
Mr.  Isaac  Diller. 
Miss  Sally  C.  Brown. 
Miss  Jeanette  E.  Smith. 
Mrs.  May  Grimsley  Donaldson. 
Mrs.  R.  F.  Herndon. 
Miss  Eliza  Condell. 
Miss  Mary  Brooks. 

The  program  consisted  of  reminiscences  and  readings  by  Miss 
Margaret  Brooks. 

Logan  Chapel,  which  served  as  the  dining  room,  was  transformed 
into  a  bower  of  beauty.  The  walls  were  decorated  with  flags  draped 
between  the  pictures  of  former  pastors.  Tall  yellow  candles  in  silver 
candelabra  furnished  the  light  and  from  tables  adorned  with  rosebuds, 
Mrs.  Robert  C.  Lanphier,  assisted  by  the  Executive  Council  of  the 
Woman's  Auxiliiary  and  others,  served  delicious  refreshments.  The 
George  Killius  Orchestra,  concealed  behind  a  bank  of  ferns  and  palms, 
furnished  music  throughout  the  evening. 

Tuesday  was  observed  as  "Woman's  Day"  by  a  tea  in  the  parlors  of 
the  church.  In  the  receiving  line  were  Mrs.  C.  D.  Wright,  President  of 
the  Woman's  Auxiliary;  Mrs.  John  C.  Hanna,  President  of  the  Presby- 
rerial;     Mrs.    John    T.    Thomas,    the    pastor's    wife    and    President    of 


30 

Woman's  Missionary  Society;  Mrs.  Donald  McLeod,  former  pastor's  wile; 
.Miss  Lavinia  Smith,  President  of  the  Dorcas;  Mrs.  W.  C.  Hoover, 
President  of  Mizpah,  and  the  following  Past  Presidents: 

Woman's  Missionary  Society — Miss  Hackney,  Miss  Mary  Lewis,  Miss 
Clara  Miller,  Miss  Sallie  Brown,  Mrs.  Arthur  Prince,  Mrs.  E.  S.  Scott, 
-Mrs.   John   E.   George  and    Mrs.   A.   L.   Bowen. 

Busy  Bees— Mrs.  R.  M.  Baker,  Mrs.  Hattie  Brown  Gait,  Mrs.  Cath- 
erine Palmer  Todd,  Mrs.  Maud  Morgan  Ruth,  Miss  Alice  Orendorf,  Mrs. 
May  Brown   Knapheide,   Mrs.   Clementine   Talbott   Stuart. 

Mizpah— Miss  Mabel  Southwick,  Mrs.  Edith  Pickering  Williams. 
-Mrs.  Edna  Orendorf  Macpherson,  Miss  Virginia  Prince,  Miss  Clare  Stahl, 
Mrs.  Clara  Willett  Gullett,  Miss  Bertha  Edwards,  Miss  Anna  Hannon, 
Miss  Nealie  Hemenway,  Mrs.  W.  B.  Holmes,  Mrs.  Ruth  Wright-Carter, 
Mrs.  Albert  Rankin.  Mrs.  W.  E.  Sampson,  Mrs.  Wm.  Sprinkle,  Mrs. 
Lawrence  Flynn,   Mrs.  Henry  Bengel,  Miss  Margaret  Deyo. 

Mrs.  John  T.  Thomas  brought  greetings  as  follows: 

MRS.    THOMAS'   GREETINGS. 

The  women  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church,  welcome  as  our  guests 
today,  former  members  of  this  church  and  friends,  together  with  repre- 
sentatives of  our  sister  churches  in  Springfield  and  in  Sangamon.  We 
are  claiming  this  proud  privilege  as  the  mother  of  Presbyterianism  in 
this  county,  and  as  such  we  greet  you. 

In  looking  back  over  those  long  years  of  service— years  and  times 
when  service  meant  something  far  more  real  than  our  church  work  does 
today,  made  pleasant  by  every  convenience — we  are  disposed  to  say,  all 
honor  to  those  good  women  who  did  the  pioneer  missionary  work  in 
church  as  well  as  in  home  life,  and  to  earnestly  hope  that  the  mantle  of 
their  unselfish  example  may  fall  on  us. 

We  are  proud  of  those  who  have  gone  before  us,  we  are  proud  of 
our  church  of  today,  and  if  you  suspect  us  of  being  a  bit  childish  in 
the  feeling  that  all  Springfield  should  doff  her  hat  to  us  this  week, 
please  pardon  it;  perhaps  we  are  childish,  for  are  we  not  one  hundred 
years  old.  and  what  else  could  you  expect? 

But  we  have  a  warm  welcome  in  our  hearts  today  for  all  our  friends 
and  guests  and  I  would  bring  it  to  you  in  the  old  phrase  so  often  heard 
in  the  sunny  southland  where  to  welcome  is  a  habit,  "We  are  mighty 
glad   to  see  you   all." 

MRS.    DONALD  C.  MacLEOD'S   GREETINGS. 

Knowing  that  only  a  few  minutes  of  this  precious  time  belongs  to 
me— lest  I  should  transgress,  I  have  put  my  words  on  paper.  It  is  a 
rare  privilege  to  put  one  little  flower  in  the  golden  vase  of  the  memories 
Of  100  years.  I  count  it  no  little  honor  to  be  a  link  in  the  Golden 
Chain  of  the  Membership  of  this  Church  reaching  across  the  most 
wonderful  century  iii  history.  The  memories  of  this  Centennial  occa- 
3ion  will  ever  hv  migrant  with  us.  Were  there  no  limit  to  my  time, 
all   that    I   could   say   :<>  this  dear  Old  First  Church  would  be   loving  con- 


31 

gratulations  upon  your  century  of  devoted  service  to  Christ — Loving  God 
Speed  as  you  sail  out  upon  the  wider  sea  of  another  century. 

The  past  one  hundred  years  have  been  important  ones  in  the  history 
of  our  church  and  our  nation.  Of  all  the  wonderful  changes  that  have 
taken  place  and  the  marvelous  things  that  have  been  accomplished  in 
the  past  century  none  are  more  important  than  the  part  played  by 
women. 

Mrs.  John  C.  Hanna,  Presbyterial  President,  spoke  as  follows  on: 

THE    ADVANCEMENT    OF    WOMEN    (IN    CHURCH    ACTIVITIES)     IN 
THE  19TH  CENTURY. 

The  19th  Century  has  been  called  the  Women's  Century.  The  or- 
ganized women's  work  began  with  the  period  of  the  Civil  War.  But  this 
movement  was  preceded  by  a  number  of  unorganized  efforts  for  religious 
expression  on  the  part  of  women.  We  wonder  if  these  were  sporadic — 
a  single  group  here  and  there,  or  was  there  one  group  in  the  beginning, 
from  which  others  sprang — We  will  never  know;  the  one  essential  fact  is 
that  women  as  early  as  1811  were  doing  their  bit— quietly  and  efficiently 
— earning  a  bit  here  and  there  to  promote  the  Father's  work. 

Female  Cent  Societies  (penny  societies) — with  no  money  except  the 
bit  saved  by  self-denial,  egg  money,  butter  money,  rag  money — to  use  in 
mission  work  as  they  chose.  And  their  efforts  and  their  prayers  have 
been  the  force  through  which  these  devoted,  consecrated  Christian 
women  secured  recognition  from  the  powers  that  were,  namely  the  men. 

In  the  minutes  of  the  General  Assembly  of  1811,  we  find  this  state- 
ment: "It  has  pleased  God  to  excite  pious  women  to  combine  in  As- 
sociations for  the  purpose  of  aiding,  by  their  voluntary  subscriptions, 
one  or  more  of  the  above  institutions" — referring  to  Missionary  and 
Bible  Societies. 

One  of  the  oldest  missionary  societies  wras  that  of  the  Pencader 
Church  in  Delaware,  organized  in  1813.  This  society  was  called  at 
various  times  "Association;"  "Missionary  Society;"  "Bible  Society;" 
"Female  Educational  Society;" — its  aim  being  to  help  students  for  the 
ministry — and  for  "heathen  youth,"  as  they  termed  them.  They  became, 
in  1871,  an  auxiliary  of  our  Women's  Foreign  Board. 

In  1835  the  "Female  Missionary  Sewing  Society"  was  organized  in 
Washington.  Penn.,  and  has  continued,  it  is  stated,  without  break  to  the 
present  time. 

It  is  interesting  to  read  from  their  Constitution — early  formulated, 
the  following  extract,  i.  e.:  "That  they  were  to  meet  at  2  o'clock  every 
Tuesday  and  from  that  hour  to  nine  were  to  sew  wTith  diligence."  Their 
work,  the  Constitution  states,  was  of  "infinite  importance  and  serious 
concern" — and  it  further  advised  that  "a  corresponding  seriousness  should 
pervade  our  conversations  and  actions  during  the  times  of  these  meetings, 
and  all  levity  should  be  banished  as  far  as  possible." 

At  9  o'clock,  it  seems  that  the  young  men  were  admitted — whether  the 
Constitution  wras  in  force  after  that  is  not  on  record. 


32 

Another  Society,  organized  in  Newark,  N.  J.,  in  1835,  chose  for  its 
name,  "Society  for  the  Evangelization  of  the  World."  It  is  still  in  ex- 
istence. In  the  first  ten  years  of  its  organization— 1835-1845,  it  con- 
tributed $23,000  to  the  American  Board  of  Missions. 

In  1870  the  "Ladies  Board  of  Missions  came  into  being  thru  the  union 
of  some  of  the  early  societies,  which  carried  on  double  work  of  Home  and 
Foreign  Missions. 

It  is  interesting  to  note  that  in  this  year  of  1870,  it  was  something 
of  a  shock  when  the  Board  of  Foreign  Missions  (then  only  men)  heard 
that  some  Philadelphia  ladies  were  about  to  organize  themselves  into  a 
society  because  there  was  work  in  the  Eastern  World  that  only  women 
could  do. 

The  Board  looked  on  in  alarm — yet  with  open  mind.  Pastors,  with 
a  few  exceptions,  were  so  suspicious  that  one  pastor  insisted  on  being 
present  at  a  meeting  in  his  church.  "Because,"  he  said,  "no  one  knows 
what  these  women  would  pray  for,  if  left  to  themselves." 

In  1875  men  had  so  advanced  in  intelligent  understanding  of  the  great 
work  that  women  were  doing  that  the  Board  appointed  a  committee  to 
prepare  a  plan  for  the  cooperation  of  women  with  the  Board. 

There  are  today  seven  Women's  Auxiliary  Boards. 

Today  we  know  that  women  have  been  the  strongest  supporters  of 
both  Foreign  and  Home  Missions,  and  have  full  recognition  on  the  Boards 
of  the  church. 

The  General  Assembly  of  1923  passed  the  following  resolutions  in  the 
expression  of  their  appreciation  of  the  many  years  of  faithful  service 
rendered  by  the  Women's  Boards:  Be  it  resolved,  "That  the  Board  of 
Foreign  Missions  should  emphasize  and  strengthen  in  all  possible  ways 
the  local,  presbyterial,  synodical  organizations  of  women  and  young  people 
in  order  that  these  organizations  may  continue  to  recognize  their  responsi- 
bility for  the  support  of  their  own  missionaries  and  stations —  and  the 
operation  of  their  own  budget  for  which  they,  as  women's  organizations, 
are  responsible."  Further,  be  it  resolved  "That  the  pastors  and  the 
church  at  large  be  asked  to  cooperate  in  this  effort,  conserve  and 
strengthen  the  specific  and  valuable  work  carried  on  for  so  many  years 
by  the  women's  organizations." 

Looking  down  today  thru  the  membership  of  our  Boards,  we  find  the 
names  of  some  of  our  great  and  consecrated  women  workers, — Mrs.  Bur- 
nett, Mrs.  Kerr,  Mrs.  Swearigen,  Miss  Shafer,  Miss  Hodge,  Mrs.  Silver- 
thorn,  Mrs.  Roys,  Miss  Schultz,  Miss  McKenzie— and  a  host  of  other  as 
well  known  names. 

Truly  and  justly  can  it  be  said  that  the  19th  Century  is  the  Women's 
Century,  the  full  fruition  of  which  is  crowding  over  abundantly  into  the 
20th  Century. 

MRS.  IDE'S  REMINCENCES. 

In  every  organization  and  every  community  there  are  interesting 
things  take  place  that  are  not  written  in  histories.  Mrs.  Bessie  Brown 
Ide,  a  descendent  of  one  of  our  former  pastors,  and  daughter  of  Mrs. 
Christopher  C.  Brown,  gave  "Reminicences  or  Childhood  Recolections  of 
Earlier  I);iys  in  the  Church." 


33 

Forty-five  years  ago  I  sat  in  the  same  pew  of  the  First  Presbyterian 
Church  that  I  now  sit  in,  then  known  as  Major  Stuart's  pew.  It  was 
deeded  for  the  use  of  the  Stuart  family  so  long  as  members'  of  the  family 
paid  a  certain  amount  toward  the  support  of  the  church;  and  the  deed 
is  still  in  the  possession  of  the  children  of  Stuart  Brown. 

As  I  think  back  to  that  time  I  recall  certain  things — not  the  most 
important,  of  course,  but  things  that  impressed  a  child.  I  remember  that 
in  front  of  us  sat  the  Griffith  family  and  Aunt  Lizzie  Brown  (Mrs.  John 
Howe  Brown),  and  further  forward  Mr.  and  Mrs1.  Brice,  Miss  Carry  Tozier, 
the  Wines  family,  Mrs.  Goin  Sutton  and  Mrs.  Nutt,  Mrs.  Reed  and  Miss 
Jennie  Hamer.  Behind  us  sat  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Ferguson,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Thomas  Smith,  the  Lewis  family,  the  Warren  family,  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Hemen- 
way,  and  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Andrew  Brooks  and  family.  On  the  opposite  side, 
I  remember  the  Dalby  family  with  a  pew  full  of  children,  Mr.  and  Mrs. 
Benjamin  Edwards,  the  Bunn  family,  the  Lambs,  Mr.  George  Black  and 
the  Remans;  also  the  Orendorffs,  the  Lathams,  Senator  and  Mrs.  Cullom, 
the  Cook  family,  the  Brainerds,  the  Hudsons;  and  further  over,  Mr.  and 
Mrs.  Thomas  Vredenburgh,  and  Mr.  Roly  Diller;  all  of  whom  are  living 
in  my  memory  as  I  speak  of  them. 

In  those  days  there  were  no  children's  societies.  It  was  expected 
as  a  matter  of  course  that  the  children  would  go  to  Sunday  School  and 
to  church.  No  one  ever  thought  of  such  a  thing  as  the  service  being  too 
long  for  them  to  sit  through,  and  it  was  a  much  longer  sermon  than  we 
now  have;  and  no  child  was  supposed  to  look  inside  her  Sunday  School 
book  or  glance  at  her  Sunday  School  paper  during  church. 

As  I  look  back,  it  seems  to  me  it  must  have  been  a  great  happiness 
to  those  fathers  and  mothers  to  see  the  line  of  children  in  the  pew — most 
families  had  at  least  four  children — and  to  feel  the  children  were  being 
prepared  to  meet  life  in  the  church  they  loved. 

I  wonder  how  many  of  you  recall  what  a  joy  the  Sunday  School 
library  was.  There  was  only  a  small  private  library  in  the  town  then, 
and  getting  a  Sunday  School  book  was  a  great  delight. 

The  children  also  were  taken  to  the  church  sociables,  held  always 
in  the  homes.  Wonderful  suppers — everything  cooked  at  home  and 
donated;  chicken  salad,  escalloped  oysters,  cold  ham,  tongue  and  turkey, 
ice  cream  and  cake.  Think  of  that,  you  housekeepers  who  now  go  to  the 
telephone  and  order  a  cake  for  the  church  supper.  No  charge  was  made, 
as  everyone  who  went  had  already  donated  liberally. 

At  that  age  I  wras  un-social  and  was  discovered  by  my  mother,  as 
we  were  departing  for  a  church  sociable,  to  have  a  big  book  under  my 
arm.  "What  is  that,"  she  demanded.  "Oh,  just  a  book  to  read  at  the 
church  sociable,"  I  replied.  It  is  unnecessary  to  state,  it  was  removed 
at  once. 

Some  of  my  very  pleasant  recollections  are  of  sociables  as  I  became 
older — and  what  a  thrill  some  of  us  experienced  in  taking  part  in  Tenny- 
son's "Dream  of  Fair  Women"  given  at  Mrs.  Ferguson's  hospitable  home. 

The  church  music  always  gave  me  pleasure.  I  remember  when  Mrs. 
Knapp  played  the  organ  and  Mrs.  Henkle's  lovely  voice  charmed  me.  I 
recall  Mr.  Frank  Jones  and  Fred  Fisher,  and  cousin  Will  Grimsley — I 
never  hear  "The  Palms"  or  "There  is  a  Green  Hill  Far  Away"  without 
thinking  of  him.     Then  the  Lehmans — Mr.  Lehman  was  given  to  impro- 


34 

vising  and  often  played  something  especially  for  some  member  of  the 
church.  Many  of  you  probably  remember  how  he  always  played  the 
wedding  march  when  a  bride  came  to  church  the  first  time  after  her 
marriage. 

I  wish  I  had  time  to  tell  more  about  some  of  the  women  of  the  church 
whom  I  recall.  Mrs.  Katherine  Jones,  Dr.  Bergen's  daughter,  was  a  great 
friend  of  my  grandmother's1,  and  I  can't  remember  the  time  when  I  did 
not  know  her  or  her  sister,  Mrs.  Lamb.  It  gave  me  a  thrill  as  a  little 
girl  to  know  someone  whom  Lafayette  had  kissed;  and  she  could  recite 
for  us  the  little  poem  that  she  recited  with  twelve  other  little  girls  in 
welcome  to  Lafayette  on  his  visit  to  America  in  1825.  "The  loss  of  our 
Washington  still  We  regret  but  almost  behold  him  in  thee,  Lafayette," 
was  a  line  that  pleased  my  fancy  particularly. 

Mrs.  Jones  had  a  delightful  personality.  I  recall  asking  her  some 
twenty-five  years  ago  when  visiting  her  one  day  if  she  thought  women 
gadded  a  good  deal  more  than  in  her  day.  Her  reply  was,  "Why,  my 
dear,  we  went  all  we  could,  but  there  was  so  much  to  be  done  we  had 
to  stay  home  and  do  it;"  and  I  thought  of  the  old  English  proverb,  "She 
will  stay  at  home,  perhaps,  if  her  leg  be  broke." 

One  thing  Mrs.  Jones  told  me  that  I  remember  was  about  the  first 
orange  she  ever  saw.  One  was  sent  her  father  as  a  great  curiosity,  and 
he  divided  it  into  sections  and  gave  a  section  to  each  member  of  the 
family.  In  my  own  childhood,  oranges  were  a  treat.  My  father  always 
bought  a  crate  at  Christmas  and  we  could  indulge  in  them,  but  we  were 
pleased  to  get  the  oranges  and  candy  at  the  Sunday  School  Christmas 
tree.  Very  few  families  had  Christmas  trees  at  home,  and  it  was  a 
pleasure  to  see  the  lovely  tree  at  the  church  trimmed  with  paper  chains 
and  pop-corn  strings  made  by  ourselves,  and  covered  with  cotton  and 
tinsel  and  tiny  candles  that  made  a  fire  often  part  of  the  program. 

I  wonder  how  many  of  you  remember  Mrs.  Lincoln's  funeral.  I  was 
not  usually  allowed  to  go  to  funerals,  but  my  father,  on  my  representation 
that  I  wished  to  tell  my  grandchildren  I  had  been  to  Mrs.  Lincoln's 
funeral,  allowed  me  to  go.  I  was  greatly  impressed  by  the  funeral  sermon 
preached  by  Dr.  Reed.  In  it  he  compared  Mr.  and  Mrs.  Lincoln  to  two 
lofty  elm  trees  struck  by  the  same  bolt  of  lightning.  One  was  felled  to 
the  ground,  the  other,  though  shattered,  lived  on.  I  could  hardly  wait 
until  Dr.  Reed's  next  visit  to  our  house  to  ask  if  he  really  sow  those  trees 
or  if  he  just  made  it  up. 

In  closing.  I  want  to  speak  a  word  about  Mrs.  Mary  McKee  Holmes, 
the  teacher  in  whose  memory  the  first  of  the  memorial  windows  was 
given.  She  was  an  honored  member  of  our  church  for  years,  and  many 
of  the  women  of  Springfield  who  attended  her  school  remember  her  with 
affection. 

It  has  been  impossible  in  five  minutes  to  mention  many  of  the  friends; 
so  I  ask  you  to  recall  them  to  yourselves  and  realize  that  while  "they 
rest  from  their  labors,  their  works  do  follow  them." 

Elizabeth  Brown  Ide. 

No  history  of  the  church  in  the  last  100  years  would  be  complete 
without  a  history  of  the  women's  work.     Mrs.  Arthur  Prince  gave  a  his- 


35 

tory  of  the  "Woman's  Missionary  Society" — the  oldest  woman's  organiza- 
tion in  the  church. 

THE  WOMAN'S  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY— 1871  TO  1914. 

It  is  appropriate  for  us,  gathered  to  celebrate  the  one  hundredth  birth- 
day of  our  church,  to  look  back  upon  the  beginnings  of  our  woman's  work 
for  missions,  when  the  foundations  were  being  laid  for  the  larger  use- 
fulness that  is  our  privilege  today. 

The  Presbyterian  Womans  Foreign  Mission  Board  of  the  Northwest 
was  established  in  Chicago  in  December,  1870.  The  great  purpose  of  this 
board  was  to  create  and  stimulate  an  interest  in  foreign  missions  among 
the  Women  of  these  western  churches  and  to  encourage  the  formation  of 
societies  for  organized  work.  One  of  the  first  societies  to  be  formed  was 
that  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  of  Springfield. 

On  May  12,  1871,  a  called  meeting  of  the  women  of  the  church  was 
held,  presided  over  by  Dr.  Bergen.  A  Constitution  was  adopted  and  offi- 
cers elected.  Mrs.  James  A.  Reed,  wife  of  the  minister  was  chosen  to  be 
President;  Mrs.  S.  A.  Bergen,  Vice  President;  Mrs.  Sybil  Jayne,  Treas- 
urer; Mrs.  B.  S.  Edwards,  Corresponding  Secretary,  and  Mrs.  Henning, 
Recording  Secretary.  Also,  a  committee  was  appointed  for  each  ward  of 
the  city,  to  call  upon  the  church  women  in  the  interest  of  the  new'  or- 
ganization. The  society  was  then  adjourned  to  mee  the  following  Tues- 
day. 

At  this  second  gathering,  eleven  ladies  were  present.  The  meeting 
was  opened  by  the  reading  of  scripture  and  prayer.  Reports  of  the  com- 
mittees in  the  four  city  wards  were  handed  in,  showing  the  names  of 
thirty-five  women  who  had  become  members.  The  meetings  of  the  society 
were  to  be  held  quarterly  and  the  plan  was  adopted  of  having  one  or  more 
ladies  read  some  account  of  the  work  that  was  being  carried  on  in  the 
various  mission  field. 

After  several  months  of  suspense  and  uncertainty  as  to  the  best  way 
to  use  the  funds  gathering  in  the  treasury,  it  was  finally  learned  that  a 
Miss  Dickey  from  Illinois  was  to  be  sent  to  Siam  as  a  missionary  by  the 
Ladies'  Board  of  New  York,  and  as  a  result  of  much  correspondence, 
our  society  decided  to  contribute  to  her  support.  On  December  13,  1871, 
the  first  check  was  sent  out,— and  so  the  work  of  the  society  was  begun. 

It  is  fascinating  to  read  the  priceless  records  of  this  group  of  earnest 
women.  In  spite  of  such  discouragements  as  must  be  met  in  establishing 
a  new'  undertaking,  obstacles  were  met  and  overcome  with  unfailing 
patience  and  perseverence,  although  the  secretary  sometimes  expressed 
regret  at  the  small  numbers  in  attndance  and  that  subscriptions  were 
slow  in  coming  in.  It  was  soon  found  a  better  plan  to  hold  meetings 
monthly.  These  were  frequently  held  in  the  church  on  Sunday  afternoon. 
After  a  few  years,  reports  from  home  missions  shared  the  time  of  the 
afternoon  program. 

In  the  meantime,  under  the  advice  of  the  Board  of  the  Northwest, 
Presbyterial  Societies  were  being  formed,  and  we  find  the  Womens  Society 
of  the  First  Church  largely  instrumental  in  organizing  that  of  the  Spring- 
field Presbytery.  The  officers  of  our  own  society  at  this  time  were: 
President,  Mrs.  James  Beveridge;  Vice  President,  Mrs.  Jayne;    Treasurer, 


36 

Mrs.  S.  M.  Cullom;  Corresponding  Secretary,  Miss  Ellen  Jayne;  Record- 
ing Secretary,  Mrs.  B.  M.  Griffith.  Delegates  came  to  Springfield  to  the 
Presbyterial  meeting  in  October,  1877.  The  woman's  organization  was 
effected  and  two  of  the  members  of  the  Springfield  First  Church  were 
elected  to  office.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Brown  as  President  and  Mrs.  B.  M. 
Griffith  as  Recording  Secretary. 

Again,  when  the  Synodical  Society  was  organized,  officers  were  chosen 
from  our  church,  Mrs.  C.  C.  Brown  for  President  and  Mrs.  Griffith  for 
Recording  Secretary. 

An  event  of  more  than  ordinary  interest  occurred  in  1880,  when  the 
Women's  Societies  of  the  First  and  Second  Presbyterian  Churches  enter- 
tained the  six  hundred  delegates  who  came  to  attend  the  annual  meeting 
of  the  Board  of  the  Northwest  in  response  to  the  invitation  extended  by 
our  society.  This  was  quite  an  undertaking,  but  was  successfully  accom- 
plished. The  societies  of  both  churches  were  efficiently  organized  and 
were  ably  assisted  by  the  men. 

In  1882,  the  General  Assembly  met  in  Springfield  and  was  made  most 
welcome.  Our  secretary  was  too  busy  to  enter  a  report  in  her  ledger, 
but  we  know  that  it  must  have  been  an  inspiring  occasion. 

In  1896,  the  society  celebrated  its  twenty-fifth  anniversary  by  furn- 
ishing a  program  for  the  regular  Friday  evening  prayer  meeting  and  giv- 
ing interesting  reports.  During  the  twenty-five  years  the  annual  enroll- 
ment had  been  about  sixty,  with  an  average  attendance  at  meetings  of 
twelve.  In  the  ten  years  just  past,  $4,205.26  had  been  given  to  the  cause 
of  missions.     The  silver  offering  upon  this  occasion  amounted  to  $54.25. 

These  facts  and  figures  have  been  gathered  from  the  books  filled  with 
reports  of  the  Recording  Secretary,  but  in  turning  the  pages,  we  gain 
much  more.  They  breathe  the  very  spirit  of  the  splendid  women  of 
earlier  days  who  seem  to  live  again.  We  see  the  ladies  of  the  Jayne 
family,  faithful  workers  as  long  as  health  permitted,  gentle  Mrs.  Reed 
who  was  afterwards  Mrs.  D.  C.  Brown,  Mrs.  Beveridge  who  was  chosen 
President,  year  after  year,  Mrs.  P.  C.  Latham  at  whose  home  manv 
pleasant  meetings  were  held,  Mrs.  Goin  Sutton,  Treasurer,  ever  ready 
with  scripture  lessons  and  prayer.  Many  are  the  times  when  we  read, 
"The  meeting  was  closed  by  prayer  with  Mrs.  Sutton."  Then  there  were 
Mrs.  Spear,  Mrs.  Jacoby,  Mrs.  Melvin,  Mrs.  Williams,  Mrs.  Fox  Mrs 
David  Allen  Brown,  Mrs.  George  Connelly,  Mrs.  Brooks  and  Mrs.  Bryce! 
whose  names  occur  frequently. 

Among  this  group  of  devoted  women,  there  were  those  who  served 
a  wider  field.  Of  these,  we  remember  Mrs.  George  Clinton  Smith  who 
was  Corresponding  Secretary  for  sixteen  years.  She  had  a  sweet  and 
cultivated  voice  and  was  always  the  one  to  lead  the  singing.  She  was 
gifted  in  many  ways  and  a  ready  speaker  as  well  as  writer.  She  was 
greatly  interested  in  temperance  work  and  was  a  valued  leader  in  the 
Women's  Christian  Temperance  Union. 

The  work  nearest  the  heart  of  Mrs.  Lavinia  Beach  was  the  mission 
and  reading  room  at  Ridgely  which  was  known  by  her  name  until  out  of 
small  beginnings  has  grown  the  Clementine  Memorial  Church  named  for 
our  own  Clementine  Stuve  and  given  by  her  husband,  Mr.  Benjamin 
Knudson  in  loving  memory. 


37 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Brown,  wife  of  the  third  minister,  Dr.  J.  H. 
Brown,  was  recording  secretary  for  several  years,  then  president,  and 
for  the  first  eighteen  years  of  the  Presbyterial  Society,  was  its  wise  and 
gracious  president. 

The  last  president  of  our  Woman's  Missionary  Society  was  Mrs.  C. 
C.  Brown.  Her  name  appears  upon  the  records  from  almost  the  first, 
when  she  came  to  Springfield  as  a  young  married  woman.  Sbe  was  a 
member  of  the  Board  of  the  Northwest  and  for  twenty-five  years,  presi- 
dent of  the  Synodical  Society. 

From  the  year  1871  when  the  society  was  organized  until  1914  at 
which  time  it  was  merged  with  the  Elizabeth  J.  Brown  Missionary 
Society,  there  were  comparatively  few  changes  among  the  officers.  The 
office  of  recording  secretary  was  held  by  only  four  women.  The  last  one 
to  fill  the  office  was  Mrs.  B.  M.  Griffith.  To  many  of  us  it  has  seemed 
that  she  was  the  only  one.  Her  reports  of  the  Woman's  Missionary 
Society,  the  Presbyterial  and  Synodical  Societies  are  proof  of  her  strong 
Christian  character.  Her  appreciative  and  kindly  spirit  and  religious 
fervor  are  shown  in  the  pages  of  her  ample  records. 

I  want  to  read  to  you  from  her  report  of  the  meeting  held  February 
3,  1914.  "The  Woman's  Missionary  Society  met  at  3  P.  M.  at  the  home  of 
our  president,  Mrs.  C.  C.  Brown.  Present,  Mesdames  George  Winston, 
John  Dalbey,  G.  C.  Smith,  Beveridge,  G.  B.  Hemenway,  T.  D.  Logan,  and 
B.  M.  Griffith.  Our  president  of  the  past  fifteen  years  calls  for  the 
secretary's  report  and  roll  call.  The  latter  was  responded  to  by  all 
the  members  either  in  Scripture  texts  or  current  events.  Mrs.  Griffith 
on  the  program  for  devotions,  read  from  the  fourteenth  chapter  of  the 
Gospel  of  St.  John,  of  the  promises  so  comforting  and  sustaining  to 
every  believer  of  the  'Home  over  there  with  Jesus'  who  is  'the  Way, 
the  Truth  and  the  Life'  and  giving  to  the  believer,  His  Peace  which  the 
world  cannot  know.  Mrs.  Griffith  followed  the  lesson  with  prayer.  The 
chair  then  presented  an  invitation  from  the  Elizabeth  J.  Brown  Society 
and  requested  the  secretary  to  read  it  after  which  a  vote  would  be 
taken. 

The  note  reads: 

"Dear  friends,  at  the  last  meeting  of  the  Elizabeth  J.  Brown  Mis- 
sionary Society,  held  at  the  home  of  Mrs.  Lewis  Miller,  it  was  resolved 
unanimously  to  extend  a  cordial  invitation  to  your  society  to  unite 
with  our  organization. 

Yours   sincerely, 

Bertha  Buck  Dorwin,  Secretary. 
Sallie  C.  Brown,  President." 
"The  chair  then  ordered  the  vote  and  distributed  tickets.  Shall  we 
accept  the  invitation?  The  result  was  a  unanimous  affirmative.  So  we 
are  now  one  body  of  workers  in  our  Master's  Vineyard  'to  do  with  our 
might  whatsoever  our  hands  find  to  do.'  The  chair  then  called  upon 
Mrs.  Griffith  and  Mrs.  Smith  to  give  some  reminiscences  of  the  pioneer 
history  and  accomplishments  of  our  society."  Then  followed  an  outline 
of  the  history. 

She  also  said,  "I  have  written  twelve  volumes  of  missionary  reports, 
seven  for  the  local  society,  four  for  the  Presbyterial  Society,  and  one  for 


38 

the  Synodical  Society.  I  have  served  the  local  church  forty-three  years, 
the  Presbyterial  Society,  thirty-seven  years,  the  Synodical  Society,  the 
first  eight  years,  making  eighty-eight  years  of  service." 

In  closing,  the  minutes  record,  "Sadness  at  disbanding,  mixed  with 
the  satisfaction  and  comfort  of  so  many  years  of  Labor  and  Love  is 
brightened  by  the  sunshine  of  Faith  and  Love." 

Mrs.  A.  E.  Prince. 

January,  1928. 

SKETCH  OF  THE  WOMAN'S  MISSIONARY  SOCIETY  OF  THE  FIRST 

PRESBYTERIAN    CHURCH,    SPRINGFIELD,    ILLINOIS, 

FROM   1873   TO  1928. 

(Written  by  Miss  Clara  Miller,  and  read  by  Miss  Helen  L.  Allen,  on 
Tuesday  Afternoon,  January  31,  1928.) 

On  a  December  day  in  the  year  1873,  a  small  group  of  earnest  young 
women  met  in  the  home  of  Dr.  T.  S.  Hening  on  South  Sixth  Street, 
where  Christ  Episcopal  Church  now  stands,  to  form  a  "Young  Ladies' 
Foreign  Missionary  Society." 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Brown,  widow  of  Dr.  John  H.  Brown,  former  pastor 
of  our  church,  was  present.  She  was  the  granddaughter  of  Mrs.  Eliza- 
beth H.  Smith,  in  whose  home  on  the  30th  day  of  January,  1828,  our 
church  was  organized.  Mrs.  Brown  had  become  a  charter  member  of  the 
Presbyterian  Mission  Board  of  the  North  West  in  1871,  while  living  in 
Chicago,  but  had  returned  to  Springfield  to  make  her  home  after  the 
death  of  her  husband  in  1872.  It  was  ever  her  desire  to  do  all  she 
could  to  interest  people  in  the  cause  of  Missions,  and  it  was  her  pleasure 
to  organize  the  Society  on  that  December  day. 

Miss  Alice  Schmucker,  niece  of  Mrs.  James  A.  Reed,  the  pastor's 
wife,  had  come  west  to  make  her  home  with  her  aunt.  She  had  been 
much  interested  in  Mission  work  for  some  time  and  was  willing  to  serve 
as  President  of  the  Society.  Miss  Hannah  Stuart  was  elected  Vice 
President,  Miss  Mollie  Hening,  Secretary,  and  Miss  Jennie  Hening, 
Treasurer. 

Of  the  fourteen  people  who  were  members  of  the  Society  the  first 
year,  we  know  of  two  who  are  now  living — Mrs.  Emma  Diller  Ayers,  of 
Butte,  Montana,  and  Mrs.  Mary  Lynch  Shepherd,  a  member  of  West- 
minster Church  of  this  city. 

Miss  Schmucker's  desire  to  do  more  for  the  cause  dear  to  her  heart 
led  her  to  offer  her  services  to  the  work  in  China,  where  she  was  sent 
in  due  time,  and  her  co-workers  here  pledged  $200.00  a  year  to  her  work. 
But  on  the  way  over  to  China  she  met  Dr.  John  Davis  going  to  the  same 
Mission;  they  became  interested  in  each  other  and  were  married  after 
a  short  while.  As  Dr.  Davis  was  sent  out  by  the  Southern  Presbyterian 
Church,  his  wife's  work  was  joined  to  his,  and  our  Society  took  up  other 
responsibilities. 

Miss  Mollie  Hening  succeeded  as  President  for  one  year.  Then  from 
1877  to  ISM'  AIis.  Elizabeth  J.  Brown  was  the  very  efficient  leader,  giving 
up  only  when  her  health  failed.  Mrs.  James  A.  Reed  took  charge  of  the 
work  lor  a  short   time,  then  Miss  Virginia  S.  Hackney  was  eiected  Presi- 


39 

dent.  Through  her  influence  many  new  members  were  added,  the  or- 
ganization reconstructed,  and  good  results  followed.  In  the  records  we 
find  the  names  of  succeeding  Presidents:  Miss  Jessie  Pond,  Miss  Carrie 
Cullom,  Miss  Mary  Lewis,  Miss  Clara  Miller,  Miss  Adele  Warren,  Miss 
Margaret  Shutt,  and  Mrs.  Arthur  E.  Prince. 

On  the  4th  of  December,  1895,  the  name  of  the  Society,  in  memory 
of  its  founder,  was  changed  to  the  Elizabeth  J.  Brown  Home  and  Foreign 
Missionary  Society. 

From  1893  to  1919  Miss  Sallie  C.  Brown  was  our  capable  and  devoted 
leader,  and  when  she  declined  to  serve  longer  Mrs.  J.  C.  Hanna  was 
elected.  Under  her  direction  a  new  constitution  was  formulated  and 
adopted.  By  the  new  rules  an  officer  can  not  serve  in  the  same  capacity 
longer  than  two  years  in  succession.  So  since  that  time  we  have  had 
Mrs.  E.  S.  Scott,  Mrs.  J.  E.  George,  Mrs.  A.  L.  Bowen,  and  now  in  Jan- 
uary, 1928,  on  our  church's  one  hundredth  anniversary,  we  have  Mrs. 
John  T.  Thomas,  wife  of  our  present  Pastor,  as  our  very  efficient  leader. 

In  the  year  1914,  the  membership  of  the  Senior  Missionary  Society 
in  our  church  having  decreased  in  numbers,  it  was  invited  to  unite  with 
ours,  and  in  1919  at  the  suggestion  of  Mrs.  C.  C.  Brown,  the  name  was 
changed  once  more  to  the  "Woman's  Missionary  Society." 

Our  church  has  twice  had  the  honor  of  entertaining  the  annual 
meeting  of  the  Board  of  the  North  West,  the  last,  one  being  held  in  April, 
1908.  It  is  always  an  inspiration  to  hear  the  stories  of  the  returned 
missionaries  and  to  say  "God  Speed"  to  those  who  have  pledged  their 
services  to  the  new  work. 

The  officers  of  our  Society  have  faithfully  carried  out  the  programs 
planned  for  our  study  of  Missions,  and  we  have  benefited  by  the  addresses 
given  to  us  by  those  who  have  studied  the  work  closely. 

From  the  beginning,  our  members  have  been  willing  to  labor  with 
their  hands  to  earn  money  for  our  treasury,  often  to  make  garments  for 
some  mission  school  or  home  charity,  not  to  forget  what  was  done  for 
Belgium  and  the  Near  East  during  the  World  War,  and  the  "White 
Cross"  work  for  hospitals  in  the  Orient  since  that  time, — while  con- 
tributions are  made  regularly  in  behalf  of  our  present  Missionaries  in 
Syria — Mr.  and  Mrs.  W.  A.  Freidinger. 

In  the  last  few  years  through  the  faithful  presentation  of  the  sub- 
ject of  Stewardship,  we  have  come  to  realize  more  fully  our  responsibility 
in  supporting  our  representatives  on  the  field  at  home  and  abroad,  and 
the  helpfulness  of  daily  prayer  for  blessings  on  their  work. 

We  have  been  interested  to  know  the  total  amount  of  money  sent 
out  to  Foreign  and  National  Missions  from  year  to  year,  and  we  feel  a 
thrill  when  we  read  a  grand  total  of  thirty-one  thousand  six  hundred 
forty-one  dollars  and  twenty-six  cents  ($31,641.26)  but  we  also  feel  that 
does  not  represent  the  greatest  part  of  the  good  which  has  resulted  from 
the  earnest  efforts  of  fifty-four  years. 

HISTORY   OF   THE    DORCAS    SOCIETY. 

The  history  of  the  Dorcas  Society,  until  a  few  years  ago,  is  essen- 
tially the  history  of  one  person,  our  beloved  Sunday  School  teacher,  Mrs. 
James  P.  Bryce. 


40 

It  was  in  the  fall  of  1892,  that  Mrs.  Bryce  gathered  her  class  of 
eight  young  girls  about  her  one  Sunday  morning  and  taught  them  the 
lesson  of  Dorcas  and  her  work.  Right  then  our  Society  was  born — I 
use  the  word  advisedly — for  ihough  small,  it  was  a  living  vital  thing, 
never  mechanical. 

We  met  that  week  at  the  home  of  Miss  Maud  Morgan,  now  Mrs.  R. 
F.  Ruth,  and  organized.  Mrs.  Bryce  was,  of  course,  chosen  president; 
Lavina  Smith,  vice  president;  Carrie  Brown,  now  Mrs.  Harrison  E. 
Foster,  secretary;  and  Myrtle  Sattley.  now  Mrs.  I.  C.  Spaulding,  treasurer. 
That  was  our  first  and  last  election  in  twenty-nine  years.  The  other 
members  were  Misses  Alice  Orendorff,  Alice  Connelly,  Mamie  Harts,  and 
Florence  Griswold.     The  last  named,  died  only  a  few  years  later. 

Our  membership  grew  in  those  early  days,  and  among  the  first  to 
join  us  were  the  Misses  Jeannette  and  Annie  Smith,  Charlotte  White- 
craft,  and  Fanny  Brooks;  a  few  years  later  Misses  Nelie  Hemenway, 
Jemima  Connelly  and  Bessie  Brinkerhoff,  who  are  still  active  members. 

There  is  no  compiled  record  of  our  work  for  our  motto  was  "Let  not 
your  left  hand  know  what  your  right  hand  doeth,"  and  we  were  sur- 
prised and  rather  shocked  to  find  that  if  we  were  a  church  society  we 
must  give  an  account  of  ourselves. 

Mrs.  Bryce  was  the  heart  and  soul  of  the  Dorcas.  She  bought  the 
material,  cut  out  the  garments  and  taught  us  to  sew  them.  She  found 
the  poor  people,  and  in  turn,  took  "her  girls"  (as  we  always  were  to 
her)  with  her  when  she  visited  them.  Her  pockets  were  always  full  of 
candy  for  the  little  ones.  She  had  words  of  help  and  sympathy  for  the 
older  people.  She  always  tried  to  lead  them  to  Christ  and  seldom  left 
a  home  without  a  prayer.  Those  of  us  who  were  with  her  will  never 
forget  her  prayers.  As  she  grew  older,  her  sympathy  increased,  and 
also  her  bundles  of  clothes,  until  it  became  impossible  for  her  to  climb 
on  and  off  the  street  cars — and  Mrs.  Bryce's  work  was  clone. 

The  burdens  of  the  Society  grew  somewhat  also.  Mrs.  Bryce  lived 
for  the  poor  people  she  helped.  The  Society  existed  largely  to  keep  her 
supplied  with  material  for  her  charities.  During  the  war,  when  material 
was  expensive  and  poor  babies  numerous,  there  was  some  difficulty  in 
paying  the  bills.  The  Society  is  financed  entirely  by  dues — and  special 
collections  were  the  order  of  the  day  at  that  time. 

Mrs.  Bryce  died  February  5th,  1921,  at  the  age  of  eighty-six  years 
and  eight  months.  She  was  a  happy,  willing  worker  with  us  for  twenty- 
nine  years. 

There  was  no  thought  in  the  mind  of  any  member  of  the  Society  to 
continue  the  work  without  our  dear  leader.  So  a  meeting  was  called  at 
the  home  of  Miss  Whitecraft  to  finish  our  sewing,  decide  what  to  do 
with  our  funds — and  disband.  But  we  found  that  the  ties  formed 
through  these  years  were  too  strong,  and  the  work  was  sweet,  so  new 
plans  were  made,  new  officers  appointed,  and  the  work  goes  on. 

We  still  find  a  personal  contact  with  those  we  help  principally 
through  the  efforts  of  two  of  our  members,  Miss  Orendorff  and  Miss 
Jeanette  Smith,  who  organized  and  maintain  a  Sunday  School  at  Prior, 
a  community  composed  almost  entirely  of  foreigners  and  very  needy. 


41 

They  are  personally  acquainted  with  all  the  families  and  as  they  go 
into  the  homes  and  distribute  the  little  garments,  they  too,  use  their  in- 
fluence to  win  them  to  Christ  and  the  Church.  So  the  work  of  Mrs. 
Bryce  continues  and  "she  being  dead  yet  speaketh." 

Lavinia  R.  Smith,  President. 

THE  BUSY  BEES. 

The  Busy  Bees  was  a  missionary  society  to  which  for  thirty  years 
the  little  girls  of  the  church  belonged,  and  for  which  they  worked  most 
helpfully  and  happily.  It  seems  a  great  pity  that  such  a  delightful  or- 
ganization should  have  had  an  end,  especially  as  it  did  not  need  the 
lapse  of  time  to  enhance  its  charms. 

The  first  missionary  society  in  the  church  was  only  ten  years  old 
when  Miss  Eloise  Griffith,  whose  mother,  Mrs.  B.  M.  Griffith  was  very 
active  in  the  Woman's  Missionary  Society,  organized  the  Busy  Bees. 
This  was  early  in  the  eighties  and  her  Sunday  School  class  were  its  first 
members.  They  were  about  ten  years  old,  and  chose  the  name,  them- 
selves. Another  Sunday  School  teacher,  Miss  Mary  Starne,  helped  Miss 
Griffith,  and  the  members  of  her  class  were  among  the  others  who  joined 
the  society.  They  held  regular  meetings  at  the  homes  of  the  members, 
making  scrap  books  and  sewing  for  the  missionary  boxes  and  the  Home 
for  the  Friendless.  The  society  grew  in  popularity  and  the  little  boys 
in  the  Sunday  School  wished  that  they  could  join,  too,  and  wear  the 
badge  on  which  were  the  letters,  B.  B.  The  children  had  candy  tables 
each  year  at  the  bazaars  of  the  other  church  societies,  and  their  first 
leader  remembers  vividly  what  good  candy  they  made  and  how  en- 
thusiastic they  were  over  their  work.  Their  earnings  went  to  foreign 
missions.  Among  the  early  members  were  Miss  Lavinia  Smith  and  Mrs. 
Frank  Ruth. 

After  Miss  Griffith  married  Dr.  T.  J.  Pitner  in  1889,  and  went  to 
Jacksonville  to  live,  the  work  went  on  under  other  leaders.  In  1892, 
Miss  Hattie  Brown  (now  Mrs.  Gait)  who  had  recently  moved  to  Spring- 
field, was  asked  to  take  charge  of  the  society  and  at  that  time  there  were 
about  twelve  members,  among  them,  Elizabeth  Logan  and  Nelie  Hemen- 
way.     In  1894,  Miss  Catherine  Palmer  was  the  leader. 

The  next  year,  1895,  Miss  Alice  Orendorff  and  Miss  Maud  Morgan, 
who  had  been  a  former  Busy  Bee  under  Miss  Griffith,  took  charge  of  the 
society.  They  were  both  teachers  in  the  Sunday  School,  and  their 
classes  of  little  girls  became  enthusiastic  members.  Catherine  Ridgely 
was  the  treasurer  and  Georgie  Latham,  the  secretary.  Edna  Orendorff, 
Elsie  Logan,  Eleanor  Ridgely,  Edith  and  Mavis  Pickering  and  Mar- 
garet Deyo  were  among  the  members  at  that  time.  The  size  of  the  or- 
ganization increased  rapidly  to  twenty-five  or  thirty  members.  Chil- 
dren joined  each  year  as  they  beecame  old  enough,  and  the  older  ones 
took,  more  responsibility  in  carrying  on  the  work.  After  Miss  Morgan 
was  married  to  Mr.  Frank  Ruth  in  1901,  she  gave  up  the  work,  and  Miss 
Eliza  Condell  became  one  of  the  leaders  with  Miss  Alice  Orendorff. 
Later  on,  Miss  Marjory  Logan  joined  them. 


42 

The  meetings  of  the  Busy  Bees  were  delightful  occasions  at  the 
homes  of  the  leaders  on  Saturday  afternoons.  Twenty-five  little  girls 
with  paste  and  scissors  made  scrap  books  or  sewed  carpet  rags  together 
busily,  and  later,  their  industry  was  rewarded  by  popcorn  balls  and  hot 
chocolate.  Each  child  was  given  a  little  bank  in  the  shape  of  a  bee  hive. 
They  were  very  desirable  things  to  possess,  but  probably  added  more 
to  the  espritde-corps  than  to  the  treasury. 

The  outstanding  event  of  the  year  was  the  Busy  Bee  Fair,  long 
looked  forward  to,  and  never  forgotten.  The  fair  was  held  in  the  base- 
ment of  the  church,  on  a  Saturday  afternoon  not  long  before  Christ- 
mas, and  several  weeks  beforehand,  the  Busy  Bees  sold  five  cent  tickets 
of  admission,  decorated  with  pictures  of  bees  to  all  the  boys  and  girls 
they  knew.  When  the  day  arrived,  all  the  children  in  town  put  on 
their  Sunday  clothes  and  went  down  to  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  to 
spend  the  afternoon.  They  found  there  all  that  they  had  anticipated  and 
more — a  candy  table,  a  lemonade  stand,  a  fishpond,  a  grab  bag,  a  fortune 
teller,  a  doll  table,  a  fancy  work  table,  and  one  year,  the  Old  Woman 
who  Lived  in  the  Shoe.  Susan  Cook,  one  of  the  smallest  girls  was  in 
the  shoe.  Another  year,  there  was  a  baby  show,  and  the  very  youngest 
children  in  the  church  were  dressed  as  dolls  while  the  Busy  Bees  in 
charge  of  this  exhibit  represented  grown  up   ladies. 

Each  Busy  Bee  worked  at  some  table,  and  all  the  children  there 
spent  their  money,  bought  their  Christmas  presents,  ran  up  and  down, 
and  had  a  glorious  time.  Santa  Claus  appeared  before  the  afternoon  was 
over  and  was  ready  to  take  any  letters  that  had  been  written  to  him. 
Afterwards,  the  letters  were  given  back  to  the  parents  by  Mr.  Isaac 
Diller,  and  the  children  probably  received  some  of  the  things  that  they 
asked  for. 

The  fair  was  a  financial  success  as  well  as  a  social  one.  In  1896, 
fifty  dollars  was  taken  in  and  in  each  succeeding  year,  more  money  was 
made,  amounting  at  least  once  to  one  hundred  dollars. 

The  next  best  thing  to  making  the  money  was  spending  it,  and  the 
great  endeavor  of  the  leaders  was  to  think  of  the  things  that  the  chil- 
dren would  enjoy  doing  with  their  money.  Although  the  Busy  Bees  was 
a  foreign  missionary  society,  the  fact  was  impressed  upon  the  children 
that  the  church  building  and  its  furnishing  was  theirs,  to  be  proud  of 
and  to  take  care  of.  And  so  after  forty  or  fifty  dollars  was  sent  to  Siam 
or  to  Mexico,  there  was  always  money  left  to  buy  something  for  their 
own  church,  and  some  needed  article  was  thought  of  that  was  within 
their  means.  One  year,  they  bought  the  pulpit  light  that  is  still  being 
used,  one  year,  a  pair  of  vases  and  another  time,  a  pair  of  tabourets  for 
the  church  flowers.  The  children  made  their  own  decisions  (with  the 
assistance  of  their  leaders)  and  whenever  possible,  a  committee  went 
shopping  In  search  of  the  desired  article.  Other  gifts  were  silver  for  the 
church,  money  for  repairs,  a  Sunday  School  banner,  furniture  for  the 
parlors,  and  they  also  paid  for  more  than  half  of  the  communion  table 
that  was  used  for  so  long,  and  is  now  in  the  parlor.  They  furnished  the 
flowers  for  the  church  services  during  one  summer  and  also  took  flowers 
to  the  Old  Ladies'  Home. 


43 

The  leaders  were  constantly  thinking  of  helpful  things  for  the  chil- 
dren to  do,  and  Miss  Alice  Orendorff  says  that  the  eager  and  happy  co- 
operation of  the  children  made  it  a  pleasant  task.  For  a  time,  some 
of  the  Busy  Bees  went  out  to  the  Home  for  the  Friendless  every  Sat- 
urday morning  and  played  with  the  younger  children  there  in  a  play- 
room decorated  and  furnished  by  Busy  Bee  funds. 

In  1904,  the  older  members  organized  the  Mizpah  Circle,  but  some 
of  them  still  helped  with  the  little  girls  as  leaders,  among  them,  Susan 
Cook,  Elsie  Logan  and  Nelie  Hemenway.  The  two  societies  held  their 
fairs  together.  Among  the  officers  of  the  Busy  Bees  for  the  next  few 
years  were  Christine  Brown,  Elizabeth  Booth,  May  Brown,  Virginia 
Brown,  Josephine  Munroe,  Janet  and  Clara  Belle  Baker,  Florence  Barnes, 
Dorothy  Scott,  Ruth  Wright  and  Jeanette  Winston. 

Clementine  Talbot  and  Cordelia  Caldwell  were  the  last  two  presi- 
dents, and  in  1913,  with  the  inauguration  of  a  different  system  for  rais- 
ing money,  the  fairs  were  discontinued  and  the  last  meeting  was  held. 

During  the  thirty  years  of  the  life  of  the  Busy  Bees,  members  grew 
from  little  girls  to  big  girls,  and  left  the  society,  to  return  again  as 
leaders,  or  to  become  Sunday  School  teachers  and  members  of  the  other 
missionary  societies.  Wherever  you  find  them,  the  mention  of  the  Busy 
Bees  arouses  very  happy  memories  of  their  earliest  church  work. 

Maby  Prince. 

"THE   MIZPAH   CIRCLE." 

One  of  the  strongest  organizations  in  the  church  is  the  Mizpah 
Circle.  The  report  of  the  Mizpah  Circle  which  I  have  been  asked  to 
prepare  covers  a  period  of  twenty-four  years,  and  I  am  requested  to  tell 
all  the  important  events  in  just  five  minutes. 

In  an  old  diary  of  September,  1904,  the  following  notation  is  found: 
The  older  Busy  Bees  met  with  me  and  organized  a  new  Society  called 
the  Mizpah  Circle.  Mabel  Southwick  was  elected  President  and  Edith 
Pickering,  Vice  President.  Mrs.  Elizabeth  J.  Brown  met  with  us  at 
725  South  Second  Street  and  explained  to  the  girls  our  Church  Mis- 
sionary work  and  just  how  to  organize  a  missionary  society.  The  name 
Mizpah  Circle  was  chosen,  the  society  was  for  girls  from  sixteen  to 
twenty  years  old,  no  married  people  were  allowed  with  exception  made 
that  when  the  older  members  married  they  could  retain  their  member- 
ship in  the  society  if  they  so  desired. 

The  Mizpah  Circle  joined  with  the  Busy  Bees  in  the  Christmas  Fair 
for  the  first  three  years,  showing  that  they  were  quite  a  young  group, 
the  girls  were  largely  from  Maud  Morgans,  now  Mrs.  Frank  Ruth's  and 
my  Sunday  School  classes  then  others  were  added. 

In  October,  1906,  I  find  the  note.  The  Mizpah  Circle  met  with  Edna 
Orendorff,  Miss  Jennie  Chapin  talked  to  the  girls  of  China  where  she 
was  a  Missionary  for  nineteen  years.  The  Mizpah  Circle  now  has 
twenty-five  members.  One  of  the  first  years  Alaska  was  studied  in  a 
Travel  Class,  visiting  all  the  Presbyterian  mission  stations,  Miss  Georgia 
Osborne  spoke  at  one  of  the  meetings  on  her  trip  up  the  Yukon  River. 
An  interesting  year  was  spent  in  the  study  of  Porto  Rico  and  each  mem- 


44 

ber  was  assigned  a  country  to  report  on  Current  Events.  The  first  three 
years  I  met  with  the  Mizpahs  to  help  plan  the  programs  and  assist  when 
necessary,  but  they  were  soon  able  to  conduct  their  meetings  without 
any  help  and  were  able  to  walk  alone. 

The  charter  members  who  are  still  active  in  the  society  are  Elsie 
Logan,  Eleanor  Kirby  Homes,  Mary  Bressmer  and  Edna  Orendorff  Mac- 
pherson.  Edith  Pickering  Williams,  President  in  the  early  years,  was 
one  of  the  outstanding  members. 

For  the  first  ten  years  they  were  a  Home  Missionary  Society,  and 
always  gave  some  special  donation  to  the  church.  At  one  time  it  was 
$25.00  for  church  linen,  and  at  another  $25.00  for  church  silver,  and 
contributions  were  made  for  Travelers  Aid. 

The  Mizpah  Circle  met  once  a  month  in  the  homes  of  the  members 
which  plan  is  still  followed.  The  records  are  missing  from  1912  to  1923. 
During  this  interim  Mrs.  Edgar  Sampson  was  President  for  three  terms, 
and  she  started  the  plan  of  meeting  for  sewing  every  other  Friday  for 
eight  months  in  the  year,  to  prepare  articles  for  the  annual  Bazaar  held 
in  December. 

Margaret  Deyo  twice  served  as  President,  and  many  others  deserve 
mention,  but  we  have  no  record  of  their  good  works. 

It  was  while  Mrs.  Albert  Rankin  was  in  office  that  the  change  was 
made  from  a  Home  Missionary  Society  to  both  Foreign  and  National 
Missions  as  the  Home  Mission  Board  is  now  called. 

For  the  past  several  years  the  Budget  has  been  about  $1,000.00.  The 
banner  year  of  the  Mizpah  Circle  was  in  1925,  in  the  Secretaries  minutes 
I  find  "No  report  which  I  could  give  of  the  Mizpah  Circles  activities  could 
express  ever  in  a  small  degree  the  accomplishments  of  the  Circle,  in 
holding  before  the  members  the  high  goal  and  purpose  of  the  organization 
in  developing  the  spiritual  life  of  its  members,  as  the  material  work  is 
being  done.  The  membership  numbers  eighty  and  the  total  amount  raised 
was  $1,301.65,  divided  about  equally  between  the  National  and  Foreign 
Mission  Boards.  Mrs.  Lawrence  Flinn  was  President  at  this  time,  she 
served  for  three  years  and  when  she  retired  was  given  by  the  Circle  in 
recognition  of  her  work,  a  life  membership  on  the  National  Board  of 
Missions. 

In  the  report  of  1927,  Mrs.  Wilber  Hoover,  President,  we  read  "Our 
Circle  has  attained  one  point  on  our  standard  of  excellence  never  attained 
before,  of  which  we  are  very  proud,  that  every  member  in  the  Circle  has 
the  Prayer  Book  on  Missions,  and  over  one-half  the  members  are  subscrib- 
ing for  Women  and  Missions."  The  Prayer  Book  has  been  used  before 
but  never  by  the  whole  Circle. 

The  membership  at  the  present  time  is  sixty,  and  the  plan  still  used 
of  meeting  the  second  Friday  of  each  month  from  October  to  May  in  the 
afternoon  for  a  missionary  program.  And  every  other  Friday  from  April 
to  December  for  lunch  and  all  day  sewing  for  the  Bazaar. 

Great  oaks  from  little  acorns  grow,  and  today  Mizpah  is  a  sturdy  oak 
with  its  branches  leading  into  the  National  Mission  Field,  and  the  far  off 
Foreign  Work  is  near  to  it's  heart.  The  roots  are  firmly  planted  in  our 
own  beloved  Church.  Where  all  appreciate  the  beauty  and  strength  of 
the  tree.  On  one  branch  we  see  the  Light  Bearers  and  on  another  the 
Westminister  Guild  is  just   starting  to  grow. 


45 

The  Mizpah  Circle  has  attained  proportions  unthought  of  in  its  in- 
fancy twenty-four  years  ago.  Only  a  few  of  the  many  achievements  can 
be  mentioned  in  this  short  paper.  The  success  in  the  past  is  most  grati- 
fying and  the  coming  days  look  full  of  promise. 

Alice  E.  Orendorff. 

Miss  Mary  Louise  Whittaker,  little  President  of  the  "Westminster 
Guild"  and  Miss  Catherine  Whittaker,  President  of  the  "Lightbearers" 
were  in  school  and  could  not  be  present. 

We  were  very  sorry  because  they  may  be  the  Missionary  Society  and 
Mizpah  Circle  at  the  next  Centennial  Celebration. 

Music  was  furnished  by  the  Church  Choir,  Mrs.  John  Black,  Mrs. 
Robert  White,  Mr.  Clinton  Brown,  Mr.  Charles  Fetzer,  and  Miss  Helen 
Nettleton  at  the  piano. 

Dainty  refreshments  were  served  in  Logan  Chapel  by  Mrs.  S.  Leigh 
Call,  assisted  by  Circle  Number  One  and  others. 

The  following  is  an  excerpt  from  the  splendid  report  made  at  the 
annual  meeting  of  the  Woman's  Auxiliary,  by  Mrs.  E.  C.  Whittaker,  Secre- 
tary, Friday,  February  the  10th,  1928: 

On  Wednesday  evening  the  Centennial  Dinner  was  held  under  the 
auspices  of  the  Woman's  Auxiliary,  with  the  President,  Mrs.  C.  D.  Wright 
and  Circles  7,  6,  5,  4  and  3  in  charge.  Music  was  furnished  by  Miss 
Nettleton,  Mr.  Orville  Taylor  and  Mrs.  Robert  White.  The  dining  room 
was  decorated  with  rainbow  colors  and  baskets'  of  flowers  adorned  the 
tables,  and  a  delicious  dinner  was  served. 

Dr.  Thomas,  Pastor  of  the  Church  and  Moderator  of  the  Presbytery 
presided,  and  greetings  were  brought  by  Mayor  Smith  from  the  city;  by 
Rev.  W.  R.  Cremeans,  D.  D.,  from  Westminster  Church;  by  Rev.  H.  M. 
Hildebrand,  from  Third  Presbyterian  Church;  by  Rev.  Abram  Bergen,  D. 
D.,  of  Fifth  Presbyterian  Church;  by  Rev.  M.  C.  Marietta,  from  Clemen- 
tine Memorial  and  Fourth  Presbyterian  Churches,  and  the  Rev.  Jerry 
Wallace,  of  the  Christ  Church  Episcopal  from  the  Council   of  Churches. 

Following  the  dinner  and  greetings,  Dr.  Thomas  showed  stereoptican 
pictures,  including  former  Pastors,  different  church  buildings  occupied 
by  First  Church  and  a  few  of  the  older  members. 

Friday  was  Young  People's  Day  and  celebrated  in  the  evening  by 
a  dinner  for  the  young  people  of  our  church  and  of  as  many  other  Pres- 
byterian churches  as  could  be  accommodated.  The  dining  room  was 
decorated  again  with  rainbow  colors  and  Mrs.  William  McKenzie  assisted 
by  Circles  10,  9,  8  and  2  served  a  chicken  dinner.  Leigh  Smith,  a  great 
grandson  of  Rev.  James  Smith,  second  pastor  of  the  church,  acted  as 
toastmaster.  Miss  Mary  Murphy,  former  secretary  of  the  church,  spoke 
briefly,  and  Miss  Annabelle  Harper  sang,  "Consider  the  Lillies,"  by  Scott. 
During  the  dinner  music  was  furnished  by  Emmett  Gore,  violinist,  ac- 
companied by  Mrs.  J.  Orville  Taylor. 

The  principal  speaker  of  the  evening  was  Rev.  J.  I.  Vance,  former 
moderator  of  the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly  and  writer,  traveler  and 
pastor  of  First  Church  of  Nashville,  Tenn.  His  subject  was  "The  Thing 
Which   Makes  a  Church  Great,"   and   was  a   wonderfully   inspiring  talk. 


40 

Saturday  evening  the  church  auditorium  was  again  thrown  open  to  the 
general  public.  The  church  quartette  once  more  rendered  special  music 
and  the  Rev.  Robt.  E.  Speer  of  New  York  City,  moderator  of  the  Gen- 
eral Assembly  and  executive  secretary  of  Foreign  Missions  for  the  as- 
sembly, gave  an  address  on  "Hopeful  Elements  in  the  Religious  Situa- 
tion in  America." 

The  Rev.  Donald  C.  MacLeod,  D.  D.,  of  Omaha,  Nebraska,  the  only 
living  former  pastor,  was  present  and  preached  morning  and  evening  on 
Homecoming  Sunday,  January  29th.  We  give  a  brief  synopsis  of  the 
morning  sermon,  the  theme  of  which  was,  "Abiding  Realities  in  a  Chang- 
ing World." 

"God's  law  of  change  is  universally  manifest.  In  nature  we  see  it  in 
the  changing  seasons.  Today  we  have  spring  freshness,  summer 
luxuriance,  and  autumnal  ripenness;  tomorrow  the  scene  is  changed. 
Earth's  grassy  carpet  has  faded,  cloring  and  fragrance  of  flowers  are 
only  a  memory,  the  leaves  are  withered  and  the  winter  winds  are  mak- 
ing naked  branches  moan  and  whistle.  The  life  and  beauty  expressed  in 
grass  and  flower  are  shaken,  that  things  that  cannot  be  shaken  may 
remain. 

The  great  museums  of  the  world  are  eloquent  of  the  operation  of 
the  law  of  change  in  the  realm  of  man's  material  progress  through  the 
centuries.  The  innumerable  relics  in  these  museums  played  their  part 
in  some  period  of  human  progress,  but  in  the  progress  of  events,  were 
pushed  aside  by  inventions  ministering  more  largely  to  human  need. 
The  Mexican  ox  cart  and  the  old  spring  wagon  gave  way  to  the  loco- 
motive, the  automobile  and  the  airship. 

The  history  of  nations  is  equally  convincing  in  its  testimony  to  the 
law  of  change.  Would  you  read  the  history  of  ancient  civilizations,  you 
must  go  to  the  museums  of  the  world,  or  take  your  pick  and  shovel  and 
open  the  tombs  in  which  the  colossal  grandeur  of  these  ancient  civiliza- 
tions have  been  entombed.  God  shook  the  earth  and  buried  these  civili- 
zations that  their  places  might  be  taken  by  others  more  worthy  and 
abiding.  Lord  Chamberlain  recently  compared  the  empire  of  Britain  to 
the  Campanille  of  Florence;  intimating  that  that  great  empire  upon 
which  the  sun  never  sets,  will  ultimately  yield  to  the  convulsions  of  time 
to  fall  into  ruins  like  the  historic  Campanille. 

How  true  the  melancholy  words  of  the  psalmist, — "As  for  man,  his 
days  are  as  grass."  One  generation  gives  way  to  another.  One  nation 
passes  sadly  from  the  stage  to  make  room  for  the  rise  and  glory  of 
another.  The  weapons  with  which  we  win  our  warfare  today  will  be  the 
novelties  of  the  museum  cabinet  tomorrow.  The  great  temples,  cathedrals 
and  monuments  of  the  ages  are  crumbling  into  ruins.  Theories  of 
science,  speculations  of  philosophy,  methods  of  business,  customs  of 
society,  systems  of  theology  and  creeds  of  religion  are  becoming  anti- 
quated. Scientists  tell  us  the  old  world  itself  is  gradually  yielding  to 
the  ravages  of  time — true  to  scripture  prophesy,  it  is  growing  old  as  a 
garment  and  like  a  vesture  it  shall  be  changed. 

The  journey  of  human  life  is  like  a  man  standing  on  the  bank  of  a 
mighty  river  with  anything  upon  his  field  of  vision  in  rapid,  irresistible 
and  perpetual  flow.     In  flaming  letters  he  can  see  everywhere  upon  the 


47 

face  of  history,  in  naming  characters,  transitoriness,  change.  God  is 
ever  shaking  the  world  and  removing  the  things  that  are  shaken  that  the 
things  that  cannot  be  shaken  may  remain.  In  the  midst  of  this  con- 
stant change  and  flow  that  characterize  man's  earthly  environment,  he 
craves  for  something  abiding  upon  which  he  can  rest.  The  text  comes  to 
the  despair  of  the  soul  surrounded  by  the  passing  and  transitory,  with 
the  comforting  assurance  of  the  abiding.  God  has  provided  a  resting 
place  for  man's  tired  and  weary  soul.  All  the  change  and  flow  of  time 
are  a  part  of  God's  preparation  for  the  unfolding  of  the  unchangeable 
and  eternal.  God  is  moving  the  transitory  things  that  the  abiding  things 
may  remain.  What  are  the  ultimate  and  abiding  realities  of  Chris- 
tianity? 

First — The  God  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  an  abiding  reality. 
Ideas  of  God  are  almost  as  numerous  and  varied  as  there  are  nations 
and  races  of  men.  These  ideas  of  God  are  the  transitory  things  that 
God  has  been  shaking  and  that  must  eventually  pass  out  of  human 
belief,  that  the  abiding  reality  of  the  God  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  may 
remain  as  the  object  of  the  abiding  faith  of  universal  humanity.  The 
ultimate  in  the  revelation  of  God  is  given  to  us  in  Jesus  Christ,  who  has 
said,  "God  is  light,  God  is  Life,  God  is  love"  Jesus  has  exalted  God  so 
high  that  the  holiest  and  mightiest  can  never  hope  to  rise  above  Him; 
and  yet,  has  brought  Him  so  near  that  the  poorest  and  sinfulest  can 
reach  Him.  His  boundless  love  and  compassion  sweep  down  to  the 
lowest  depths  of  sin  and  out  upon  the  last  horizon  of  human  need.  He 
is  the  eternal,  unchangeable,  all  sufficient,  loving  Father.  As  the  north 
star  is  a  fixed  point  in  the  sky  to  guide  the  path  of  the  mariner  in  every 
northern  sea,  so  the  God  of  our  Lord  Jesus  Christ  is  a  polar  star  in  the 
sky  of  our  humanity  upon  every  sea  of  joy  or  trouble.  In  every  anxious 
hour  upon  the  storm  tossed  sea  of  life,  we  can  lift  our  eyes  and  hearts 
in  exuberant  joy  and  triumphant  hope  to  Him.  Nothing  can  separate 
us  from  Him.  "He  is  able  to  save  to  the  uttermost."  He  abideth  faith- 
ful. He  cannot  be  shaken.  "That  the  things  that  cannot  be  shaken  may 
remain." 

The  second  great  abiding  reality  of  Christianity  is  the  manhood  of 
our  Lord  Jesus  Christ.  "The  man  Christ  Jesus."  As  the  God  revealed 
in  Christ  is  all  adorable,  all  sufficient,  unchangeable,  eternal;  so  the  man 
revealed  in  Christ  is  unshakable.  He  is  the  all  sufficient  and  eternal 
man.  Different  types  of  men  have  been  worshipped  in  different  ages. 
God  has  been  shaking  the  earth  and  one  after  the  other  these  types  have 
passed  into  oblivion.  The  world  once  worshipped  the  brute  of  Theseus; 
the  military  genius  of  an  Alexander;  the  duplicity  of  a  Michavelli;  the 
political  strategy  of  a  Disraeli — these  all  have  passed  from  the  stage. 
Today  the  money  king  has  the  center  of  the  stage.  But  God  is  shaking 
the  earth  and  this  type  will  soon  pass  into  oblivion.  Type  after  type 
must  continue  to  pass  until  the  stage  is  prepared  for  the  ideal  man. 
Old  Testament  prophets  saw  him  in  the  far  future  and  exclaimed  in 
rapture,  "Behold  my  Servant  whom  I  uphold,  behold  mine  elect  in  whom 
my  soul  delighteth."  Socrates,  Cicero  and  other  great  souls  of  the 
ancient  world  longed  for  the  coming  of  the  ideal  man.  The  great  souls 
of    twenty    centuries    have    rendered    him     enthusiastic    obeisance.      He 


48 

brings  great  tidings  to  the  poor,  comforts  the  sorrowing,  heals  the  sick, 
feeds  the  hungry,  clothes  the  naked,  pardons  the  sinner,  and  gives  hope 
to  the  despairing,  and  life  to  the  dying;  and  announces  to  humanity  the 
unending  year  of  Jehovah's  favor.  All  the  voices  in  the  universe  pro- 
claim his  right  to  eternal  reign. 

"Human   thoughts   may   change   ana   learning   falter. 

Creeds  fail,  forms  perish,  systems  go. 

but  our  human  needs,  they  will  not  alter. 

Christ  no  other  age  will  e'er  out  grow. 

Yea,  Amen  Thou  changeless  one 

Thou  only  art  life's  guide  and  spiritual  goal, 

Thou  the  guide  across  the  dark  path  lonely. 

Thou  the  Spiritual  haven  of  the  Soul." 
There  is  one  goal  towards  which  all  humanity  moves.     Jesus  is  the 
end  of  human  destiny.     "God  appointed  apostles,  etc.     Till  we  all  attain 
to  a  full  grown  man;    To  the  measure  of  the   stature  of  the  fulness  of 
Christ." 

The  third  great  abiding  reality  of  Christianity  is  the  program  of 
Jesus.  It  is  presented  comprehensively  in  the  four  gospels.  Its  great 
notes  are  sounded  in  the  sermon  on  the  mount.  Its  quintessence  is  the 
golden  rule.  Humanity  has  known  the  communism  of  uncivilized  life, 
the  slavery  of  ancient  civilization,  the  feudalism  of  the  middle  ages.  It 
is  in  the  closing  days  of  selfish  individualism  of  modern  times,  with 
dark  clouds  in  the  sky  presaging  future  trouble.  Human  society  will 
never  find  an  abiding  place  until  it  rests  in  faith  and  love  upon  the 
individual  and  social  program  for  the  world  ennunciated  by  Jesus  Christ 
in  His  gospels. 

The  next  is  that  the  rewards  of  God  are  abiding.  The  God  re- 
vealed in  Jesus  Christ  is  the  salvation  and  satisfaction  of  humanity. 
Saint  Augustine  says:  "Thou  hast  made  man  for  Thyself  and  he  will 
be  restless  until  he  finds  his  rest  in  Thee."  Man's  sense  of  dependence 
upon  God  is  abiding.  We  are  children  of  God  and  our  eternal  blessed- 
ness will  be  the  companionship  of  a  Father's  lcve.  The  rewards  of  this 
world  are  perishing,  its  hope  suffers  eclipse,  its  promises  deceive,  its 
pleasures  are  transcient;  the  pleasures  of  Christ  are  abiding  satisfac- 
tions. His  promises  are  secure,  His  sun  is  never  eclipsed,  His  inheri- 
tance is  incorruptible,  undefiled  and  unfailing." 


49 


The  Centennial  Pageant. 

The  "Centennial  Pageant"  was  written  by  Mrs.  Velma  Shumway 
Stokes.  The  costuming  was  by  Mrs.  Frank  H.  McKelvey.  The  staging  by 
Mrs.  Donald  O.  Needham,  all  members  of  our  church.  The  Pageant  was 
staged  in  the  great  Auditorium  of  the  High  School  which  was  full  of 
interested  people  from  all  of  Springfield.  The  editor,  deeply  grateful  to 
all,  feels  that  only  a  faint  idea  of  the  most  remarkable  production  can 
be  gained  by  reading  it.  However,  it  is  included  with  some  of  the  pic- 
tures in  this,  our  permanent  records. 

The  Pageant  Committee:  Mr.  J.  L.  Pickering,  Miss  Alice  Bunn,  Mrs. 
R.  C.  Lanphier,  Mr.  B.  L.  Catron. 

MUSIC 
Old  Gregorian  Chant Quartette    (off  stage) 

PROLOGUE 

Marquette  Brings  the  Message  of  Christ  to  the  Land  of  the  Illini. 

Scene:  Tableau:  Marquette,  pale  and  haggard,  stands  in  center  of  stage 
holding  aloft  a  cross.  Grouped  behind  him  stand  several  friars, 
some  in  black  robes,  some  in  grey,  also  three  or  four  Canadian 
voyageurs,  in  their  colorful  woodmen's  clothes.  Seated  in  a 
semi-circle  before  this  group  are  many  Indians;  braves,  bucks, 
maidens,  squaws  and  children. 

MUSIC 

Blest  Be  the  Tie  That  Binds   (old  tune) Quartette 

(Off  stage  unless  in  costume.) 

INTRODUCTORY  CHORUS 

Citizens  and  all  assembled  here,  ye  shall  behold  tonight 

The  history  of  our  church's  growth — 

And  yet  not  history  in  its  stricter  sense:  — 

A  group  of  episodes  that  do  but  hint, 

The  struggles  stern  of  early  days:  — 

A  picture  painted  with  a  lighter  touch, 

Yet  here  and  there,  a  shadow  to  depict 

The  hardships  of  the  pioneer. 

And  then  down  through  the  years  that  come 
The  picture  brightens  with  the  shifting  times. 
Life  seems  less  stern. 
And  yet  our  growth  goes  on. 


50 


51 

CHORUS  READ  BEFORE  EPISODE  I. 

One  hundred  years  ago  tonight 

Our  church  was  born — a  tiny  thing, 

And  yet  God  gave  an  inner  light; 

A  strength  to  grow,  to  live,  to  do. 

A  tiny  thing,  and  yet  He  knew, 

He  visioned  what  this  church  might  be, 

And  so  He  watched  with  loving  care 

As  these,  His  children,  tended. 

He  gave  them  Charity,  and  Hope,  and  Faith, 

He  gave  them  strength,  and  Love  of  Right. 

He  guided  them,  the  hand  that  wrote 

The  covenant  we  read  tonight. 

That  covenant,  our  corner  stone 

On  which  we've  built  this  century  through. 

Our's  is  the  task  of  building  on — 

Our's,  and  our  children's  children,  too. 

FIRST   EPISODE. 
OUR  CHURCH  ONE   HUNDRED   YEARS  AGO. 

Scene:  Curtain  rises  on  dark  stage.  Later  the  setting  is  revealed;  a 
room  containing  old  fashioned  furniture,  amongst  which  is  a 
bed;  enough  benches  and  chairs  to  seat  twelve  persons  and  table 
with  old  Family  Bible.  Set  about  the  room  are  several  unlighted 
candles. 

Characters: 

Mrs.  Smith Mrs.  Edwards  Brown 

Rev.  Ellis Julian  Vallette 

Nancy  Humphries Mrs.  John  T.  Thomas 

Olive  Slaytor Miss  Jeanette  Smith 

James  White Harold  George 

William  Proctor Dr.  E.  E.  Hazell 

Isaiah    Stiilman Arthur    Kuster 

John  Moore Do^nel  Hudson 

Mary  Moore Eva  May  DeBruler 

Elizabeth  Moore Miss   Jemima   Connelly 

Catherine  Moore Mrs.  James  S.  King 

Phoebe  Moore Thelma   Ramsey 

John  H.  Moore Axtell  Kramer 

Andrew  Moore Roderick  Antrim 

Samuel  Reid Robert  Butts 

Elijah  Scott S.J.  Krogdahl 

Jane  Scott Miss  Nelie  Hemenway 

Ann  lies Miss  Alice  E.  Orendorfe 

Mrs.  Smith  enters,  carrying  lighted  candle,  goes  about  light- 
ing other  candles. 

Loud  knocking  and  stamping  of  feet — off-stage — Mrs.  Smith 
carries  candle  to  door — holds  it  high  in  open  door  way,  to  light 
those  who  enter: 


52 

Rev.  Ellis,  Nancy  Humphries.  Olive  Slaytor,  James  White. 
William  Proctor,  Isaiah  Stillman.  John  X.  Moore,  Elizabeth 
Moore.  Catherine  Moore,  and  Margaret  Mcore.  carrying  lighted 
lanterns  and  three  chairs. 

Mrs.  Smith:  Welcome,  folks.  I'm  glad  the  snow  didn't  keep  you  at  home. 
Come  right  in  and  lay  cff  your  wraps. 

From  without  loud  rapping  and  stamping  of  feet.  Mrs. 
Smith  again  picks  up  candle  and  goes  to  door — enter  Phoebe 
Moore,  Mary  Moore.  John  Moore.  Andrew  Moore,  Samuel  Reid, 
Elijah  Scott,  Jane  Scott,  and  Ann  lies,  carrying  four  chairs  and 
lighted  lanterns. 

Mks.  Smith:  Come  in  neighbors,  there's  plenty  of  room  for  us  all,  I'm 
sure. 

Jane  Scott:      I  regret  tramping  snow  on  your  clear  floor,  Mrs.   Smith. 

Mrs.  Smith:  Don't  you  worry  about  the  snow,  Jane.  I'll  scrub  up — 
better  snow  than  mud  any  day. 

Isaiah  Stillman:  Kind  of  blustery  cut.  but  I  think  the  wind  from  off 
the  prairie  is  dying  down. 

John  X.  Moore:  Yes.  it's  going  to  be  clear  cold  and  way  below  zero 
before  morning. 

Olive  Slaytor:  I  didn't  lock  to  see  you.  Ann  lies.  What  with  moulding 
candles  and  soap — making  both,  I  allowed  you'd  not  get  done  in 
time. 

Ann  Iles:  Well.  I  got  the  wicks  all  set,  and  the  tallow  poured  into  the 
moulds,  then  just  left  it  to  harden.  As  for  the  soap,  I  worked 
hard  and  fast;  where  there's  a  will,  there's  a  way,  Mary,  and  I 
guess  women  the  world  over,  can  arrange  their  work,  so  as  to 
leave  'em  time  to  go. 

Mrs.  Smith:  How  about  you  folks  from  Indian  Creek?  Are  you  all 
fixed  up  for  the  night?  What  with  these  little  houses  and  our 
big  families,  it  leaves  scant  room  for  hospitality. 

Jane  S(OTt:  Yes.  Mrs.  Smith,  the  folks  are  all  to  be  stowed  in  some 
way.  in  my  house,  and  Ann  Iles. — Phoebe  Moore's  five  children 
are  all  sleeping  crosswise  in  one  trundle  bed.  while  my  own. 
are  rolled  up  in  blankets  on  the  flocr  in  front  of  the  fire  place. 
I  sometimes  think  the  Lord  has  made  our  hearts  bigger  than  our 
cabins. 

Johx  Moore:  Better  that  than  the  other  way  about,  Sister  Scott,  for 
what  good  are  roomy  mansions,  where  hearts  are  small? 

Mrs.  Smith:  That's  the  gospel  truth.  Brother  Moore,  but  candles  are 
burning  low.  and  I  know  you're  all  anxious  to  get  home  before 
the  snow  drifts  get  too  deep,  so  lets  set  about  the  business  of 
our  meeting.  As  you  well  know,  it  has  long  been  in  my  heart  to 
have  some  sort  of  Presbyterian  organization  in  Springfield  or 
hereabouts,  and  now.  alter  tamest  prayer  and  supplication,  the 
Lord  has  opened  the  way.  The  General  Assembly  has  appointed 
the  Rev.  John  Ellis  of  Jacksonville,  to  act  as  moderator  at  this 
organization  meeting.  Brother  Ellis  is,  as  you  know,  one  of  the 
three  resident   preachers  in  the  State  of  Illinois,  and  is  located 


53 

in  the  neighboring  village  of  Jacksonville,  where  he  is  doing  a 
noble  work,  not  only  preaching  but  in  teaching.  Already  he  is 
making  Jacksonville  one  of  the  great  centers  of  learning  in  the 
West  by  his  work  in  establishing  Illinois  College.  Jacksonville 
Female  Academy  was  organized  in  his  home  and  is  indeed  an 
innovation  for  these  parts,  and  truly  we  all  are  praying  for  his 
success.  Brother  Ellis,  will  you  as  moderator,  take  charge  of 
the  meeting? 
Brother  Ellis:  Sister  Smith  is  indeed  generous  in  her  praise  of  other's 
work,  but  says  naught  of  her  own.  It  was  she  who,  by  letter, 
laid  our  needs  before  the  General  Assembly,  back  East,  and  be- 
cause of  that  letter,  the  Assembly  sent  two  Presbyterian  Mis- 
sionaries to  the  West,  where  for  the  past  eight  years,  they  have 
spread  the  gospel  and  done  much  to  further  Christian  work. 
And  again  it  is  to  Sister  Smith,  that  we  owe  whatever  good  we 
accomplish  here  tonight.  Brother  Stillman,  I  should  like  you  to 
act  as  clerk,  if  you  will.  Before  we  enter  upon  the  work  of 
actual  organization  let  us  have  a  full  and  free  discussion  of  our 
needs  and  the  possibilities  that  lie  at  hand.  Let  us  open  with  a 
word  of  prayer.  (All  stand.)  Oh,  Lord,  Thou  Who  seest  the 
vision  that  lies  in  the  hearts  of  these,  Thy  people,  may  You  give 
them  the  strength  and  the  wisdom  for  their  task.  Not  alone  the 
labor  of  planting  the  seed  of  Thy  truth  on  these  broad  prairies, 
but  also  the  task  of  seeing  that  the  seed  falls  not  on  stony 
ground.  For  it  is  in  the  hearts  and  lives  of  our  youths,  that  the 
ground  must  be  made  fallow.  And  so  we  ask  Thy  blessing,  not 
alone  on  this,  Thy  hand  maiden,  nor  the  circle  of  God-fearing 
men  and  women  gathered  about  her,  but  more  especially,  Oh, 
Lord,  do  we  pray  you  to  bless  cur  little  children  who  lie  sleep- 
ing in  their  homes,  scattered  over  the  prairie.  For  it  is  to  our 
children  and  our  children's  children  that  we  must  hand  on  our 
task.  Theirs  will  be  the  labor  and  the  joy  of  fulfilling  cur  vision 
—a  Church  of  God— its  roots  planted  deep  in  this  prairie  soil, 
its  branches  wide  spreading,  and  its  fruitage  abundant.  Amen.' 
Let  us  hear  from  you  on  this  subject,  Brother. 
(All  seat  themselves.) 

Andrew  Moore:  We  feel,  Brother  Ellis,  that  there  are  enough  Presby- 
terians here  and  at  Indian  Creek,  to  form  some  sort  of  organiza- 
tion. Our  need  is  great,  how  best  to  fulfill  that  need,  is  our 
problem. 

Samuel  Reed:  Our  need  is  indeed  great,  and  I  thought  today,  as  I 
passed  the  log  jail,  with  the  whipping  post  close  beside  it,  how 
speedily  in  this  new  country,  we  had  provided  the  means  for 
punishing  the  evil  doers  in  this  life;  yet  how  we  had  failed  to 
warn  them  of  the  punishment  which  follows  in  the  world  to 
come.  Should  not  we,  as  God  fearing  Christians,  warn  these 
sinners  of  the  danger  of  hellfire? 

Nancy  Humphries:  Nor  should  we  neglect  to  tell  them  of  the  glories  of 
the  life  everlasting  promised  to  them  that  love  the  Lord  and 
keep  His  commandments. 


54 

William  Pboctor:  As  in  Sister  Smith's  heart  there  has  long  been  the 
vision  of  Presbyterianism  in  these  parts,  so  too,  it  has  long  been 
a  hope  in  my  heart,  that  the  Lord  would  spare  my  life  until  that 
day  comes,  wherein  I  see,  here  in  Springfield,  a  resident  preacher 
of  our  faith  to  conduct  divine  service  in  a  Presbyterian  meeting 
house.  Not  a  log  meeting  house,  nor  yet  frame,  but  even  brick. 
May  the  Lord  grant  my  prayer. 

J  a. mls  White:  Amen!  but  e'er  that  vision  materializes  there  is  much 
to  be  done  in  our  village  as  it  is  today.  Springfield  is  now  a 
settlement  of  some  200  inhabitants.  35  or  more  log  cabins  and 
even  4  or  5  two-story  frame  residences.  Can  we  not  then  find 
some  door  that  will  open  to  us,  that  we  may  worship  God? 

Elijah  Scott:  Being  a  close  friend  of  Erastus  Wright,  the  school 
master,  I  feel  certain  that  we  may  have  the  use  of  the  log  school 
"house  which  stands  in  the  Hazel  thicket. 

Samuel  Reid:  That  will  be  a  worthy  meeting  house,  Brother  Scott,  and 
one  we  will  do  well  to  use;  but  should  we  expect  to  hold  all  our 
meetings  in  Springfield?  In  looking  about  me,  I  realize  that 
only  six  of  us.  (and  those  six,  women)  live  within  this  village 
proper.  The  rest  of  us  who  call  Springfield  our  home,  in  reality 
live  within  a  radius  of  some  five  miles.  While  those  others,  per- 
haps one-half  of  this  gathering,  live  at  Indian  Creek,  twenty 
miles  to  the  north.  Should  not  Indian  Creek  have  its  share  of 
meetings? 

Andrew  Moore:  You  are  right  brother.  We  of  Indian  Creek  would  like 
to  have  our  share  of  the  services;  and  though  we  have  no  school 
house,  my  home  is  ever  open  for  the  worship  of  the  Lord. 

Elizabeth  Moore:      And  mine. 

Catherine  Moore:      And  mine. 

William  Proctor:  Why  not  then  let  us  plan  to  worship  on  alternate 
Sabbaths,  here  and  at  Indian  Creek.  The  session  could  likewise 
arrange  its  meetings.  For  a  ride  of  but  twenty  miles,  be  it 
through  snow  or  mud  or  the  heat  of  the  prairies,  is  but  a  small 
price  to  pay  for  the  joy  of  worshipping  the  Lord.  And  my 
horses  and  my  wagon  will  carry  those  who  could  not  go  otherwise. 

James  White:     And  my  wagon  too  may  be  used  for  the  neighbors. 

Rev.  Ellis:  Your  willingness  of  spirit  has  been  proved.  Let  us  therefore 
set  about  the  organization. 

William  Proctor:  I  have  here  certain  resolutions  prepared.  May  I  pre- 
sent them?  Be  it  resolved  that  a  church  be  formed  to  be  known 
by  the  name  of  the  Sangamo  Presbyterian  Church.  The  follow- 
ing brethren  to  be  duly  elected  elders,  viz:  John  Moore,  Samuel 
Reid,  Isaiah  Stillman,  John  X.  Moore,  and  Isaiah  Stillman. 
Clerk. 

(Men  rise,  and  stand,  as  their  names  are  called.) 

Brother  Ellis:     Are  you  willing  to  serve. 

John  Moore,  Isaiah  Stillman,  Samuel  Reid.  John  X.  Moore:  I  willingly 
accept  these  responsibilities. 

James  White:      I  move  these  resolutions  be  adopted,  as  read. 


55 

Andrew  Moore:     I  second  that  motion. 

Rev.  Ellis:  It  has  been  moved  and  seconded  that  these  resolutions  be 
adopted.    All  in  favor  make  it  known  by  saying  "Aye." 

In  Chorus,  All:     Aye. 

Rev.  Ellis:     Contrary,  "no."     The  ayes  have  it. 

Elijah  Scott:     May  1  present  for  adoption  the  following  covenant: 

We,  the  subscribers,  anxious  to  secure  to  ourselves  and 
others  the  privileges  and  ordinances  of  the  Gospel,  do  solemnly 
agree  to  receive  each  other  in  the  love  and  fellowship  of  JESUS 
CHRIST,  and  walk  together  as  heirs  of  the  grace  of  life,  taking 
the  word  of  GOD  as  the  rule  and  guide  of  our  faith  and  practice, 
building  only  on  the  foundation  of  the  Prophets  and  Apostles, 
JESUS  CHRIST  Himself  being  the  chief  Coroner  Stone.  We  en- 
gage to  aid  each  others'  growth  in  grace  and  knowledge,  to  watch 
over  each  other  in  Christian  affection,  in  faithfulness  to  reprove 
and  exhort  with  all  long  suffering.  Relying  on  the  grace  of  God, 
we  will  strive  so  to  live  and  walk  before  the  world  as  becomes 
the  children  of  the  most  High;  and  we  will  endeavor  to  promote 
the  cause  of  vital  godliness  in  the  place  where  we  live,  esteem- 
ing like  Moses  the  reproach  of  Christ  greater  riches  than  the 
treasures  in  Egypt,  having  respect  to  the  recompense  of  the  re- 
ward. We  will  seek  first  the  Kingdom  of  God,  the  Kingdom 
which  is  not  of  this  world.  Admonishing  one  another  daily,  lest 
any  be  hardened  through  the  deceitfulness  of  sin,  and  stirred 
up  each  other's  pure  minds  by  way  of  remembrance  to  be  faith- 
ful unto  death,  that  we  may  receive  the  crown  of  life,  "looking 
unto  Jesus,  the  Author  and  Finisher  of  our  faith,  who,  for  the 
joy  that  was  set  before  Him,  endured  the  cross,  despising  the 
shame,  and  is  set  down  on  the  right  hand  of  the  throne  of  God." 
And  we  adopt  for  our  Constitution,  Confession  of  Faith,  etc., 
that  of  the  General  Assembly  of  the  Presbyterian  Church  of  the 
United  States,  regarding  that,  as  every  other  summary  of  Chris- 
tian doctrine  and  discipline  drawn  by  uninspired  men  not  as 
absolutely  perfect,  but  as  being  more  conformable  to  the  doctrine 
and  precepts  of  the  Gospel  than  any  other  within  our  knowledge. 

John  Moore:     I  move  the  covenant  be  adopted  as  it  stands. 

Andrew  Moore:     I  second  the  motion. 

Rev.  Ellis:  It  has  been  moved  and  seconded  that  the  covenant  be 
adopted  as  it  stands,  and  those  in  favor  voting  "aye." 

Chorus,  All:     Aye. 

Brother  Ellis:  Contrary,  "no."  The  Ayes  have  it.  This  concludes  the 
business  of  the  evening.  May  we  not  before  we  adjourn  rise  and 
join  in  singing  Old  Hundred. 

All  Sing: 

Praise  God  from  whom  all  blessings  flow; 
Praise  Him  all  creatures  here  below; 
Praise  Him  above,  ye  heavenly  host; 
Praise  Father,  Son,  and  Holy  Ghost — Amen. 

(As  they  turn  to  put  on  wraps,  curtain  falls.) 


5G 

CHORUS   READ   BY   MISS   MARGARET   BROOKS   BEFORE 
EPISODE  II. 

The  records  of  this  church,  in  voting  leather  tomes, 

A  treasure  house  of  ancient  love,  they  seem. 

One  turns  the  pages,  lost  in  thought. 

One  glimpse  love  and  sorrow  too — 

Weddings   and   births   and   deaths. 

The  mooted  question  of  the  black  man's  rights 

Throbs  through  the  pages  of  these  tomes. 

Help  for  the  needy  and  courage  for  the  weak — 

Advice  and   watchful  care 

For  those  whose  footsteps  stray. 

All  this  is  chronicled  within  these  ancient  books. 

Time  changes  manners,  customs,  modes — 
And,  reading  through  these  archives  old, 
These  musty  books  with  faded  script 
One  watches   pictures  of  the   past  unfold. 

SECOND   EPISODE- 
CULLED  FROM  THE  OLD  RECORDS. 

Scene:  Interior  of  room  in  church  at  Third  and  Washington.  Several 
straight  chairs;  a  large  plain  table  on  which  lie  books  and 
papers.  On  the  wall  hangs  a  map  of  the  Holy  Land.  Girl's 
wraps  lie  on  chairs  at  back 

Characters: 

Mary — a  vivacious  girl,  very  merry Dorothy  Btjrtle 

Phoebe — Dreamy  and  romantic;    pretty Edith  Loefelek 

Amelia — a  bit  older  and  more  serious  minded.  . Gertrude  Loefelek 
Members  of  the  session. 

The  Elders: 

Rev.  Mr.  Bergen Dr.  John  T.  Thomas 

Elder  Torrey J.  L.  Pickering 

Elder    Stone Isaac    R.    Diller 

Elder  Wiley J.  C.  Hanna 

Eider  Lamb Shelby  C.   Dorwin 

Mary:  (Pushing  chair  back  from  table.)  There,  it's  done  at  last! 
Wonder  what  time  it  is? 

Phoebe:  (Going  to  window  and  looking  out.)  Well,  the  shadows  are 
getting  pretty  long,  I  should  think  it  was  along  toward  four 
o'clock.     Almost  time  for  the  session  meeting. 

Mary:  It  wasn't  really  so  much  work,  after  all.  When  Dr.  Bergen  said 
we  were  to  hunt  out  all  the  baptisms  in  the  church,  I  said,  "Oh, 
Dr.  Bergen,  not  all  those  records;  why,  that's  a  lifetime  job;  the 
church  must  be  at  least  twenty  years  eld."  And  he  just  smiled 
and  said,  "But,  Mary  child,  they've  been  such  short,  happy 
years." 


Phoebe:  Isn't  Dr.  Bergen  a  dear  old  man?  But,  twenty  years  is  a  long 
time,  nevertheless!  I  was  complaining,  too,  at  the  prospect  of 
going  through  all  "those  dull  old  records"  and  father  said, 
"Phoebe,  those  books  are  chuck  full  of  romance,  far  more  inter- 
esting than  any  novel,  because  it's  all  true."  But,  of  course,  I 
took  that  statement  with  a  grain  of  salt,  as  I  always  do  those 
homilies  of  father's.  But,  would  you  believe,  when  I  picked  up 
this  musty  old  book,  it  fell  open  right  to  the  very  page  which 
was  the  record  of  the  first  marriage  ever  performed  in  the  old 
church.  'Twas  March,  1832,  and  there,  in  faded  ink,  were  the 
names,  "Mi.  William  Porter  and  Miss  Margaret  Klein."  My  own 
father  and  mother,  and  from  that  minute,  I  knew  Father  was 
right,  and  there  was  romance  in  these  old  pages!  Then,  too, 
finding  my  own  name  among  the  baptisms  gave  me  a  thrill,  and 
the  name  of  the  little  brother  who  died  before  I  was  born.  That 
made  me  feel  sad,  but  some  way,  it  made  me  have  a  sort  of  iove 
for  the  old  books. 

Azuelia:  And  think  of  their  historical  interest.  There  isn't  a  page  in 
them  that  doesn't  paint  a  picture  of  those  early  days.  Our  first 
meeting  place,  the  log  school  house,  built  at  the  intersection  of 
two  streets,  because  nobody  would  give  a  lot  for  the  purpose. 
The  contractor  burning  his  own  brick  for  our  first  church,  the 
first  brick  church  in  the  whole  state  of  Illinois,  just  think  of 
that — Notices  of  services  to  be  held  by  old  Peter  Cartwright 
(Mother  remembers  him  in  his  big  fur  hat).  And  the  day  the 
mob  marched  on  the  church,  demanding  the  slavery  meeting  be 
adjourned,  and  our  old  bell  ringing  to  drown  out  the  cries  of  the 
mob.  Elijah  Lovejoy  was  killed  by  the  Alton  rioters  less  than 
three  weeks  later,  but  he  was  here  that  day.  I  can  see  him  now, 
as  he  stood  defying  that  mob  of  angry  men. 

Mary:  (Interrupts.)  La,  La,  Amelia,  you  never  saw  Elijah  Lovejoy  in 
your  life,  and  you  wouldn't  know  him  if  he  walked  in  this  room. 
this  very  minute— but  it's  just  like  you  to  see  the  historical  in- 
cidents and  like  Phoebe  to  see  the  romance  in  these  records; 
while  all  I  see  is  the  humor. 

Both:      Humor?     In  these  books? 

Mary:  Certainly,  isn't  it  funny  to  think  now  of  dear  old  Elder  Blank, 
as  having  been  once  cited  before  the  session  for  the  sin  of  pro- 
fanity. And  that  meek  old  man  who  always  sits  in  the  back 
pew.  remember  him?  (Girls  nod.)  Well,  he  wasn't  always  so 
meek.  Once  when  he  needed  some  money,  he  got  rid  of  his  team 
of  horses  by  selling  chances.  And  when  the  session  heard  what 
he  was  doing,  they  said  he  was  running  a  lottery,  and  he  must 
stop  it  at  once.  But  he  replied  that  he'd  sold  lots  of  tickets  and 
he'd  given  his  word,  and  he  "allowed  he'd  have  to  go  through 
with  it."  And  he  did,  too!  That  meek  old  man!  (Laugh 
heartily.) 

Phoep.e:  Well,  you  come  pretty  near  being  a  back  slider,  yourself!  And 
some  day,  if  you're  not  careful,  somebody  may  be  reading  about 


58 

your  being  cited  before  the  session,  too.     I  never  knew  anybody 

whose  toes  itched  to  dance,  the  way  yours  do. 
Mary:     Backslider!     Me  a  backslider,  merely  because  I'd  like  to  go  to  a 

dance?     Why,  Dr.  Bergen's  own  daughter,  Mrs.  Jones,  when  she 

was  a  girl,  once  really  went  to  a  ball! 
Amelia:     Oh,  no,  she  didn't  go  to  a  ball,  she  went  to  a  celebration  they 

gave  when  they  moved  the   State  Capitol  here.     And  then  after 

she  got  there,  they  turned  it  into  a  ball.     But  just  the  very  first 

minute  she  heard  'em  tuning  up  the  fiddles  for  a  cotillion,  she 

fairly  flew  out  of  that  hall,  fast  as  she  could  go! 
Phoebe:      (Estatically.)     Just  as  Cinderella  did 
Maby:      (Holds  up  hands  in  amazement.)     NowT,  who,  but  Phoebe,  could 

picture  staid  Mrs.  Jones  as  Cinderella! 

(Enter  members  of  session  and  girls  rise  to  go.) 
Member  1:     Sorry   to   disturb   you,   ladies,   but   the   session   has   weighty 

matters  to  discuss. 
Amelia:     Oh,  we  were  just  going  anyway.     Here  is  the  list  of  baptisms, 

Dr.  Bergen  said  you  wanted. 

(Girls  get  wraps  while  Amelia  is  speaking  and  exit  when  she 

finishes.     Session  gathers  about  table.) 

SESSION  MEETING. 
(Supposed  date  March  30th,   1843.) 

(This  is  to  follow  immediately  after  the  scene  in  which  three  young 

girls  talk  over  what  they  have  discovered  from  the  records  regarding  the 

early  times  in  the  history  of  the  church.) 

Enter  three  of  the  elders — James  L.  Lamb,  Edmund  R.  Wiley,  and 

Asahel  Stone. 

Elder  Wiley:  Sorry  to  disturb  you,  ladies,  but  a  session  meeting  has 
been  called  for  this  hour  and  we  have  important  business  to 
transact. 

One  of  the  Girls:     Oh,  we  are  all  through  and  this  is  our  report. 

Elder  Wiley:     Yes,  yes,  give  it  to  Brother  Stone  who  is  the  clerk. 

Elder  Lamb:  Well,  well,  I  don't  know  as  my  feet  are  in  very  good  shape 
to  come  into  the  church.  The  mud  is  pretty  bad  out  our  way — 
but  I  did  the  best  I  could. 

Elder  Wiley:  I  found  it  mighty  bad  going  as  I  came  up  that  big  hill. 
I  thought  my  good  horse  wras  going  to  be  stalled  entirely — but 
he  made  it,  though  he  was  blowing  hard  when  I  put  him  in  your 
stable,   Brother   Stone. 

Elder  Stone:  I  guess  the  members  of  the  legislature  will  have  pretty 
tough  going  if  they  try  to  go  home  before  their  session  closes. 
Do  you  reckon  they'll  pass  that  bill  about  a  railroad  from  Alton 
to  Springfield?  I'm  afraid  'twill  be  a  long  time — hello,  here's 
Brother  Torrey— How  are  the  roads  out  your   way? 

Elder  Torrey  (entering):  Bad  enough,  bad  enough.  I  tell  you  gentle- 
men what  this  Illinois  country  needs  is  railroads — and  they'll 
conif!      1   have  greal    faith   in   the  future  of  this  Mississippi  Val- 


59 

ley.  I  believe  we  will  all  live  to  see  a  real  network  covering  our 
prairies — a  through  line  from  St.  Louis  clear  up  to  Lake 
Michigan. 

Elder  Lamb:  You  mean  running  to  that  new  town  She-caw-go?  You 
don't  really  think  that  will  ever  amount  to  much  do  you? 

Elder  Torrey:  Yes,  I  do.  I  prophesy  that  it  will  be  a  great  city  some 
day — bigger  than  St.  Louis — as  big  as  Philadelphia,  with  rail- 
roads going  from  it  in  all  directions. 

Elder  Lamb:     Well,  well, — you  always  do  see  the  golden  side  of  things. 

Elder  Torrey:     You  just  wait! 

Elder  Lamb:      I'm  a-waiting!     Where's  the  minister? 

Elder  Stone:  I  understand  he  is  visiting  the  sick  and  will  be  a  little 
late — ah!  here  he  comes  now!     Good  evening,  Dr.  Bergen. 

Dr.  Bergen  (entering) :  Good  evening,  good  evening,  gentlemen.  I  hope 
I  have  not  unduly  delayed  you. 

All:     No,  sir!     We  have  not  been  here  long. 

Elder  Stone:     And  we  knew  what  had  detained  you. 

Dr.  Bergen:  Yes,  the  poor  soul!  She  is  very  ill  indeed,  and  she  feels 
a  need  of  the  comforts  of  religion.  Now,  brethren  let  us  come  to 
order  as  a  session.  First,  let  us  invoke  the  Divine  blessing. 
(All  rise.)  0,  Lord,  our  Heavenly  Father,  we  look  to  thee  in 
gratitude  for  all  that  we  have  and  all  that  we  hope  for;  and 
especially  for  thy  presence  which  thou  hast  promised  even  when 
two  or  three  are  gathered  together  in  thy  name.  Guide  us  in  all 
deliberations  and  may  all  be  for  the  glory  of  thy  kingdom. 
Amen. 

Dr.  Bergen:  Mr.  Clerk,  you  may  if  you  please,  read  the  minutes  of  the 
last  meeting. 

Elder   Stone— Clerk,    (reads)  :     February    15th,    1843.      The    session    met 
according    to    due    notice.      Present,    John    G.    Bergen,    minister; 
Elders  James  L.  Lamb  and  E.  W.  Wiley. 
Absent,  J.  Torrey  and  A.  Stone. 
Opened  with  prayer. 

The  following  named  persons  were  received  members  of  the 
church  on  examination:  Miss  Mary  Johnson,  Miss  Ann 
Mahance,  Mrs.  Bettina  Chapin,  Mr.  Merrick  Chapin  and  Mr. 
Charles  D.  Butler;  and  the  following  on  certificate:  Mr.  John 
Mahance,  a  ruling  elder  of  the  church  of  Pleasant  Ridge,  Ohio, 
and  Miss  Mary  K.  Mahance  from  the  same;  Mr.  Andrew  John- 
son and  Mrs.  Sarah  Johnson  from  the  church  of  Cincinnati; 
Mr.  Calvin  Goudy,  Jacksonville,  and  Mr.  Charles  R.  Wells  of  the 
church  of  Yale  College;  and  Mrs.  Sarah  Margaret  Baxter  of 
Pleasant  Ridge,  Ohio. 

Adjourned.     Concluded  with  prayer. 

Dr.  Bergen:  Are  there  any  corrections  to  be  made  in  the  minutes?  If 
not,  they  stand  approved  as  read.  Is  there  any  committee  ready 
to  report? 

Elder  Wiley:  Mr.  Moderator,  Brother  Lamb  and  myself  were  appointed 
some  time  ago  as  a  committee  to  wait  on  Mrs.   Doretha  Grant, 


60 


(51 

a  member  of  this  church  who  was  charged  with  unchristian 
conduct  by  treating  a  colored  girl,  bound  to  her,  with  undue 
severity.  We  have  carefully  inquired  into  the  whole  case  and 
after  a  free  and  full  conference  with  Mrs.  Grant,  we  wish  to  re- 
port as  our  finding  the  following:  (Reads)  That  Mrs.  Grant's 
general  treatment  of  the  girl  was  good  and  kind;  she  has  uni- 
formly clothed  her  and  nursed  her  in  sickness  and  endeavored 
to  give  her  that  intellectual  and  religious  training  which  duty 
required  of  her.  The  charge  of  general  ill-treatment  therefore 
the  committee  believe  to  be  entirely  unfounded. 

With  regard  to  whipping  the  girl  with  a  cowhide,  Mrs. 
Grant  states  that  she  had  been  in  the  habit  of  correcting  the 
girl,  when  she  thought  her  conduct  required  it  and  did  not 
think  she  was  correcting  her  any  more  severely  than  she  had 
done  at  other  times;  she  was  not  aware  at  the  time  that  any 
marks  were  caused  on  her  body  by  this  whipping  and  can  ac- 
count for  it  only  from  its  being  done  with  a  different  instru- 
ment from  what  she  had  formerly  used,  the  severe  effects  of 
which  she  was  unconscious.  Mrs.  Grant  acknowledges  that  the 
whipping  was  too  severe  and  not  accompanied  with  that  mercy 
which  the  Christian  should  always  exercise.  For  the  reproach 
which  has  thus  been  brought  on  the  church  through  her  means, 
she  is  sincerely  sorry  and  asks  the  forgiveness  of  her  fellow 
members  as  she  does  also  of  her  God.     (Hands  in  report.) 

Mr.  Moderator,  I  move  the  approval  of  this,  the  committee's 
finding  by  the  session  and  that  this  be  recorded  in  the  minutes 
of  the  session  and  be  published  to  the  church. 

Elder  Stone:     I  second  the  motion. 

Db.  Bergen:      Is  there  any  discussion  before  a  vote   is  taken? 

Elder  Torrey:  Mr.  Moderator,  I  believe  the  report  is  made  in  sincerity 
and  good  faith  and  probably  this  is  the  wisest  action  to  be  taken 
and  I  will  therefore  vote  for  it,  but  I  stand  here  to  prophesy 
that  before  our  children  pass  from  this  life,  this  whole  curse  of 
negro  slavery  and  bondage  of  every  kind  except  as  a  punish- 
ment for  crime,  will  be  wiped  out  of  this,  the  land  of  the  free 
and  the  home  of  the  brave. 

Elder  Lamb:  There  you  go  again,  prophesying!  Is  this  prophecy  to  be 
fulfilled  before  that  wonderful  prophecy  about  the  little  town  in 
the  mud  upon  Lake  Michigan? 

Dr.  Bergen:  Brethren,  let  us  speak  only  words  of  kindness  and 
harmony.  All  these  great  forward  steps  in  the  advance  of  civili- 
zation and  righteousness  will  no  doubt  be  taken  in  God's  good 
time.  May  His  will  be  done.  Those  in  favor  of  the  motion  will 
manifest  it  by  saying  "Aye." 

All:     Aye. 

Dr.  Bergen:     Opposed,  no.     The  motion  is  unanimously  carried. 

Dr.  Bergen:     Is  there  further  business  to  come  before  the  session? 

Elder  Stone:     Mr.  Moderator,  I  have  another  committee  report. 

Dr.   Bergen:     We  will   hear   it  now,   Brother   Stone. 


62 

Elder  Stone:  The  duty  was  laid  upon  me  in  an  informal  way  at  our 
last  meeting  of  talking  with  two  young  women  of  the  church  of 
whom  it  was  said  that  they  had  been  dancing  contrary  to  the 
rules  of  the  church.  These  were  Miss  Barrett  and  Miss  Davis. 
I  have  seen  these  two  young  women  whose  character  in  all  other 
respects  is  above  reproach,  as  we  all  know,  brethren,  and  while 
they  acknowledge  the  truth  of  the  report,  they  assure  me  that 
they  had  no  consciensness  of  doing  anything  wrong  at  the  time, 
and  that  they  had  just  looked  upon  dancing  as  a  form  of  inno- 
cent amusement  and  did  not  know  it  was  forbidden  by  the  rules 
of  the  church  as  a  very  dangerous  amusement. 

One  of  them  asked  me  if  the  Bible  does  not  recount  that 
David,  a  man  after  God's  own  heart,  danced  publicly  before  the 
Lord.  I  do  not  believe,  Mr.  Moderator  and  brethren  that  this 
question  was  asked  in  any  spirit  of  frivolousness,  but  was  sin- 
cere. I  told  her  that  David  the  King  of  Israel  did  several 
things  in  his  day  and  generation  which  we  cannot  approve,  and 
that  his  performance  could  hardly  be  considered  an  example  for 
young  females  today. 

Then,  Dr.  Bergen,  she  rather  stumped  me  by  saying,  "Well. 
David  wasn't  a  Presbyterian  anyhow,  was  he?"  I  declare  I 
hardly  knew  what  to  say  but  I  told  her  that  anyhow  David  was 
not  a  member  in  good  standing  of  the  First  Presbyterian  Church 
of  Springfield! 

The  two  young  girls  professed  repentance  for  what  they  had 
done  and  promised  not  to  offend  again. 

Dr.  Bergen:  I  take  it  brethren,  that  we  may  safely  record  in  the 
minutes  the  gist  of  what  Elder  Stone  has  reported  and  if  it  be 
your  will,  we  will  direct  the  clerk  to  make  a  note  to  that  effect. 

Elders  (speaking  all  at  once):  "Yes  indeed" — "that  would  be  my  idea." 
"I  approve  that." 

Dr.  Bergex  :  If  there  is  no  further  business  to  come  before  the  session 
a  motion  to  adjourn  is  in  order. 

Elder  Torrey:     I  so  move. 

Elder  Lamb:     I  second  the  motion. 

Dr.  Bergex:  Those  in  favor  say  "Aye."  We  are  adjourned  and  will 
close  with  a  word  of  prayer  led  by  Brother  Stone. 

Elder  Stone:  O,  God,  our  strength  in  times  of  old,  be  with  us  in  these 
times  and  guide  us  always  in  the  light  of  thy  truth,  and  help  us 
always  to  dwell  together  in  brotherly  love.  For  Jesus  sake,  we 
ask  it — Amen. 

Elder  Torrey  (after  the  closing  of  the  session  meeting)  :  Dr.  Bergen 
we  butchered  last  Tuesday  at  our  place  and  had  four  mighty  fine 
shoats.  I  thought  maybe  you  could  make  use  of  a  little  fresh 
pork. 

Dr.  Bergen  (taking  it):  Well  now,  Brother  Torrey,  that's  mighty  fine 
of  you  and  Mrs.  Torrey.  I  thank  you  for  myself  and  my  family 
and  am  sure  we  shall  enjoy  it. 

Elder  Wiley:  We  hain't  butchered  yet,  Dr.  Bergen,  but  will  remember 
you  when  we  do. 


63 

Elder  Lamb:  Good  thing, — haw,  haw! — Dr.  Bergen,  isn't  it,  that  the 
forbidding  of  pork  is  like  King  David  himself — belongs  to  the 
Old  Dispensation! — haw,  haw! 

(Dr.  Bergen  smiles  in  dignified  manner  and  the  others  all 
go  out  laughing  at  Elder  Lamb's  little  joke — except  Elder  Stone 
who  tries  in  vain  to  explain  his  attitude  about  King  David  and 
his  dancing,  "No,  brethren,  that  isn't  the  point — you  see  I  told 
the  young  women — that — " 

MUSIC 
Solo  or  duet  (women  in  costume) "Aunt  Dinah's  Quilting  Party" 

CHORUS  READ   BEFORE  EPISODE   III. 

Let  women  chatter  as  they  work   (for  women  will!) 

Talk  lightens  work,  and  women's  tongues  are  seldom  still, 

Tis  thus  their  tasks  are  done. 

Their  talk  of  common,  trivial  things 

A  knowledge  oft,  to  others  brings 

Of  times  and  folk,  long  gone. 

Let  women  chatter  as  they  work,    (for  women  will!) 

Talk  lightens  work,  and  women's  tongues  are  seldom  still — 

'Tis  thus  the  picture's  drawn. 

THIRD  EPISODE. 
THE  LADIES   AID   SOCIETY  QUILTING  BEE. 

Scene:  A  parlor  of  the  late  sixties  or  early  seventies.  Two  quilting 
frames;   chairs  enough  for  the  following  characters: 

Characters  : 

Mrs.  White,  a  young  mother Miss  Elsie  Logan 

Mrs.  Wilson,  an  older  woman,  dignified;    good  voice 

Miss   Eliza   Condell 

Mrs.   Thompson,   another   older   woman   of  same   type 

, Mrs.   J.   C  Hanna 

Lillie,    rather    large,    ccquettishly    inclined,    gossipy 

Mrs.    C    B.    Stuart 

Sallie,  young,  pretty,  flirtatious Mrs.  Josephine  McCoy 

Julia,  sharp  tongued,  "catty" Miss  Mary  E.  Brown 

Jessie,  strong  minded,  advanced Mrs.  Hazel  Larrimore 

Laura Miss  Janet  Williams 

Jane Miss   Katherine   Swafford 

Lulu Mrs.  Robert  E.  Smith 

Molly Mrs.  Isabelle  Cotjtrakon 

Lucy Mrs.  A.  L.  Hereford 

Delia Mrs.  Frank  Partridge 

Jenny Mrs.   C.   C.  Therrien 

Fanny Mrs.   Edna  Orendorff  Macpherson 


64-. 


c 


(55 

Martha Mrs.  Roy  Donaldson 

Johnny,  a  boy  of  eight  or  ten Cutter  Therrien 

Mary,  his  little  sister Elizabeth  Smith 

Mrs.  White:      (Giving  finishing  touch  to  Mary'    sash,  and  Johnny's  hair.) 
You  children  do  try  and  behave  yourselves,  play  in  the  back 
yard  quietly,  and,  Johnny,  remember,  you're  not  to  tease  Mary — 
not  once — and  don't  get  all  dirty. 

Johnny:  But,  Mother,  why  do  we  have  to  stay  in  the  back  yard? 
Can't  we  come  in  when  the  ladies  have  ice  cream — if  we  stay 
nice  and  clean,  can't  we  mother?  please? 

Mrs.  White:  No,  dear,  you're  not  to  come  in  at  all — not  once.  Mother'll 
give  you  some  ice  cream  after  the  ladies  have  gone.  Now,  run 
along,  and  be  good  to  your  sister,  Johnny. 

Johnny:     Yes,  'am. 

He  gives  sister's  hair  a  yank  and  runs  out  through  dining 
room  door.  Sister  whimpers,  Mrs.  White  pats  her,  and  she  fol- 
lows Johnny,  as  Mrs.  White  goes  to  opposite  door,  in  response  to 
knocking.     She  opens  door,  and  a  woman  enters. 

Mrs.  White:  How  do  you  do.  Oh,  what  a  fine  new  dress,  Sallie,  who 
made  it? 

Sallie:  Why  Miss  Van  Nostrand,  of  course,  she  makes  everybody's, 
doesn't  she? 

Mrs.  White:  Turn  around,  dear,  and  let's  see  the  back.  It  sets  beau- 
tifully (patting  back  of  waist)  your  figure's  perfect,  Sallie.  Such 
a  tiny  waist  and  curving  hips.  I  don't  believe  you've  fallen  off 
— not  a  pound — in  spite  of  the  late  hours  you've  been  keeping, 
this  winter. 

Sallie:  Well,  I  do  try  to  eat  plenty,  for,  of  course,  I  would  hate  to  lose 
my  figure! 

(Door  opens  and  a  group  of  women  enter.) 

Laura:     Shall  we  walk  right  in?     Oh,  see  Sallie's  new  dress. 

Sallie:  Well,  you  look  mighty  fresh  and  spring-like,  yourself.  That 
bonnet's  bewitching. 

Jane:      Isn't  it?     There's  nothing  like  plumes,  for  style. 

Sallie:  Yes,  that's  what  Miss  Griffiths  says.  She  told  me  that  when 
she  went  to  New  York  to  buy  her  spring  stock,  every  lady  on 
Fifth  Avenue  was  wearing  plumes,  plumes,  plumes.  'Twas  all 
she  saw! 

(Enter  another  group  of  women.) 

Jessie:  Good  afternoon,  everybody.  (Turns  to  Mrs.  White.)  As  we 
came  in  your  two  darling  little  cherubs  were  hanging  on  the 
front  gate.  Mary's  so  sweet,  and  Johnny  has  the  face  of  an 
angel. 

Lulu:     And  how  do  you  keep  them  so  spotlessly  clean? 

Mrs.  White:     They  are  little  cherubs,  if  I   do  say   it,  and  Johnny's   so 
sweet  and  gentle  with  his  little  sister. 
(Enter  another  group.) 

Mrs.  White:  Hello,  girls,  everybody's  coming  at  once,  go  on  in  the 
bedroom  and  lay  off  your  shawls  and  bonnets.  (As  they  all  go 
into  other  room,  Johnny's  head  appears  in  outer  doorway.) 


66 

Johnny:      Mother,  Mother,  have  they  eaten  their  ice  cream  yet? 
Mrs.  White:      Johnny,  you  go  straight  out  into  the  back  yard,  and  stay 
there.     If  you  don't  mind  what  I  say.  you  can't  have  one  bite  of 
ice  cream!     Not  one  bite! 

(Johnny's  head  disappears  and  ladies  enter,  without  wraps.) 
Mrs.  White:      Let's  get  to  quilting — we  can  talk  as  we  work,  you  know. 
(Some  place  themselves  around  quilting  frames,  others  sew 
on  small  pieces  of  work.     All  take  thimbles,  thread,  etc.,  out  of 
reticules  carried  on  arms,  thread  needles,  etc.,  while  Martha  picks 
up  a  "spool  wagon.") 
Martha:     Oh,  what  a  dear  spool  wagon.     Where'd  you  get   it,  Lucy? 
Lucy:     Belle   Hawley — cr   Belle    Brinkerhoff,    I    should    say — brought    it 
to  me  when  she  and  George  came  back  from  the  East.     She  and 
George  did   have  such   a   good   time.     Stopped   in   Gettysburg   to 
visit  the  Brinkerhoff  family.     Belle  says  they're  all  awfully  nice 
folks. 
Mollie:      Oh,  I  almost  forgot.     I've  just  heard  the  most  interesting  piece 
of  news.     I  promised  not  to  tell  who  it  is,  but  there's  going  to 
be  a  big  wedding,  in  this  town  before  long. 
Chorus:      Oh.   Mollie — do  tell — please — we  won't   tell — who  is  it? 
Delia:      Sallie,  I  just  bet  it's  Sallie! 
Jennie:     Please,   Sallie,  get  the  C.  &  A.  to  put  on  a  train  to  St.  Louis 

later  in  the  day.     I  do  hate  to  get  up  so  early  in  the  morning! 
Sallie:      Don't    worry    about   my    wedding   being    early    in    the    morning. 
I'll  probably  be  a  forlorn  old  maid,  all  my  life,  just  because  I'll 
never  love  any  man  well  enough  to  marry  him  in  time  to  start 
on  my  wedding  journey  at  six  a.  m. 
Julia:     Well,  Sallie,  if  you  do  turn  out  to  be  an  old  maid,   that'll  be  a 

grand  excuse! 
Fannie:      Nonsense.  Sallie'll  never  be  an  old  maid.     Why.  Sallie  has  all 
the  beaux  in  town. 

Married    or    single,    it    makes    no    difference     (counting    on 
fingers)     Tom    Mather,    Joe    Perkins,    Col.     Vredenburgh,    Chris 
Brown,     Joe    Condell,     Dr.     Pasfield.    George    Black,    John    Bunn, 
Pascal  Enos;   they  all  sigh  for  Sallie! 
Delia:     Oh,  Sallie,  do  have  a  grand  affair — 
Mollie:     With  a  macaroon  pyramid — 
Lucy:     And  a  thirty-six  egg  bride's  cake! 
Jennie:      Don't  forget  the  egg  nog,  Sallie! 

Sallie:      Girls,  you  embarrass  me  horribly.     I   really   intended   never   to 
get   married   at   all,   but    you   make   it    sound    so   alluring — well, 
maybe  I   will  get  up  early  enough  some  morning  to   catch   that 
train! 
MRS.   Wilson:      You   young  folks  ought  to   be    glad    there's    a    train    to 
catch.      In   my   day,    the   brides   had    to   go   to    St.   Louis   by   car- 
riage— and  if  the  roads  were  too  terribly  muddy,  we  simply  had 
to  abandon  the  wedding  trip. 
Chorus:     No  wedding  trip — how  dreadful — just  think  of  it. 
Mrs.  Thompson:      And  all  our  household  goods  came  overland  by  wagon, 
four  and  six  horses  to  the  wagon.     When  the  roads  were  bad — 


67 

and  they  usually  were.  I  remember  well,  the  time  Ninian  Ed- 
wards sold  a  lot  on  the  east  side  of  the  square  for  $100.00,  and 
he  and  Mrs.  Edwards  went  to  St.  Louis  to  spend  that  money. 
They  had  to  stay  down  there  a  week  or  more  because  it  rained 
so,  but  when  they  did  get  back,  they  brought  a  marble  topped 
table. 

Mrs.  Wilson:  And  the  excitement  it  caused.  'Twas  the  first  marble 
topped  table  in  Springfield.. 

Jennie:  The  first  marble  topped  table,  Mrs.  Wilson?  Why,  I  thought 
they'd  always  had   'em. 

Laura:      Just  imagine!     A  parlor  without  a  marble  topped  table! 

Jane:     Like  a  bedroom  without  a  bed,  how  funny! 

Mollie:  Say,  have  you  heard  that  the  new  Doctor  and  his  wife  are  com- 
ing into  our  church? 

Fannie:     Who,  Dr.  Henning? 

Mollie:     Yes,  he  bore  witness  in  prayer  meeting  last  night. 

Lulu:  Oh,  and  he  has  the  funniest  voice,  high  and  squeaky,  just  like  a 
woman's. 

Delia:  Yes,  and  Mr.  John  Owsley  sat  way  up  in  front  where  he  couldn't 
see  who  it  was  talking,  and  he  thought  it  was  a  woman.  He 
came  out  of  church  fussing  and  fuming  cause  "some  woman  in 
the  back  of  the  church  had  spoken  out  in  meeting."  Or,  as  he 
put  it,  "To  think,  that  a  female  should  raise  her  voice  in  the 
house  of  God." 

Jessie:  And  why  shouldn't  females  raise  their  voices  in  the  house  of 
God?  They  helped  raise  the  money  to  build  'em!  Why  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church,  itself,  was  started  by  a  woman.  And 
when  the  church  needed  a  communion  set,  it  was  the  ladies  that 
bought  and  paid  for  it — solid  silver,  it  is,  too,  and  I've  heard 
my  mother  tell  how  they  raised  the  money  by  giving  flower 
shows  in  the  State  Capitol,  and  tableaux  in  Cooks  Hall,  and  then 
when  they  were  still  short,  they  walked  mile  after  mile,  col- 
lecting from  the  ladies,  twenty-five  and  fifty  cents  at  a  house. 

Fannie:  Didn't  they  have  any  men  in  the  church — men  like  B.  H. 
Ferguson,  to  help  'em  out? 

Jessie:  I  don't  suppose  so.  It's  not  every  congregation  that  has  a  Ben 
Ferguson;   always  willing  to  make  up  the  deficits. 

Mrs.  Wilson:  And  our  old  bronze  bell,  Jessie,  don't  forget  that  the 
young  ladies  of  the  congregation  paid  $1,300.00  for  that  bell.  It's 
the  only  thing  we  brought  over  from  the  old  church.  And  every 
Sunday,  as  I  hear  it  ringing  up  in  this  tall  spire,  I  think  of  all 
the  sally  lun,  and  pound  cake,  and  beaten  biscuits  I  made  to 
help  pay  for  it,  and  it's  tones  sound  pretty  sweet  to  me. 

Jessie:  $1,300.00!  and  yet  we  ladies  mustn't  raise  our  voices  in  the 
Lord's  house!     Why,  the  men — 

Julia:  Now,  Jessie,  don't  get  off  on  that  hobby  of  yours.  Once  you  get 
started  on  woman's  rights — and  how  you  believe  that  the  woman 
should  be  allowed  to  vote  in  the  town  elections — 

Lulu:     What,  women  go  to  the  polls,  oh,  Jessie,  how  awful! 


68 

Jessie:  What's  awful  about  it?  Not  lady-like,  I  suppose!  We're  not 
smart  enough?  Think  of  Lizzie  Ercwn.  I  guess  she's  smarter 
than  lots  of  the  men  in  this  town.  Why,  she's  a  member  of  the 
Board  of  the  Northwest,  and  she  made  the  address  of  welcome  in 
Chicago! 
Lulu:  Well,  she's  a  preacher's  wife— that  makes  a  difference,  I  'spose. 
And  then,  too,  she  lived  with  the  Lincolns  in  the  White  House, 
for  a  while. 
Jane:     Don't   you    suppose    Springfield    seemed    awfully    dull,    when    she 

came  back  here? 
Mollle:     Dull    ?  Springfield    dull?     Why,     when     Julia    Jayne    married 
Lyman  Trumbull  and  went  to  Washington  to  live,  she  said  she 
didn't  see  a  woman  there,  any  handsomer  than  Lizzie  Bunn,  no, 
nor  one  as  sweet  as  Sue  Cook,  nor  any  that  could  talk  as  prettily 
as  Mary  Todd. 
Lucy:     And  as  for  gaity — why,  we  have  governor's  levees,  and  promen- 
ade parties,   and,   surely,  no  place  could  be   gayer   than   Spring- 
field, on  New  Year's,  with  everybody  keeping  open-house. 
Jane:     Oh,  yes,  our  New  Years  are  gay,  I'll  admit.     Why  shouldn't  they 

be,  with  all  the  egg  nog  that  we  serve? 
Mrs.  Wilson:     You're  right,  girls,  Springfield  is  gay — too  gay,  since  the 
war,  I   think.     It  used  to  be  that  the  churches  were  the   social 
centers  of  the  town.     And  a  church  social  was  a  function,  not  to 
be    missed    by    any    one,    be    they    Presbyterian,    Episcopalian, 
Methodist  or  Baptist.     They  all  came,  and  they  all  had  a  good 
time   (laughs  heartily).     We  once  tried  having  our  suppers  free. 
And,   oh,  how   those   young   boys   ate!      Wrillie    Grimsley,    Willie 
Bunn,  Georgie  Williams,  Charley  Starne,  and  even  those  two  cute 
little  tads,  Jimmey  and  Johnny  Cook,  down  they  swept  on  tin  se 
supper  tables  like  a  hoard  of  locusts!    (laughs  again).     Well,  v.  cr 
soon  quit  having  free  suppers! 
Mrs.  Thompson:     And,  Alice,  do  you  remember  the  supper  we  had  out 
at  the  Edwards'  home?     It  just  poured  all  afternonon,  and  when 
we  got  to  the  Edwards'  house,  our  feet  were  wringing  wet.     WTe 
just  dumped  our  baskets  of  food  on  the  kitchen  table,  and  came 
back  to  the  fire,  where  we  all  took  off  our  shoes  and  stockings, 
and  sat  in  a  circle  drying  our  feet. 
Mrs.  Wilson:     And  we  had  such  a  good    time    sitting    there    gossiping, 
that  we  forgot  all  about  our  baskets,  and  the  men  came  out  for 
supper,  hungry  as  wolves,  and  the  tables  weren't  even  set! 
(Both  women  laugh.) 
Mrs.  Thompson:     Remember  Mr.  Lincoln  that  night?     He  was  so  proud 
of   his    wife's   cake,    that    he    kept   urging   everybody    to    take    a 
piece.     I  can  see  him  now  as  he  said  to  me  "Ann  Maria,  have  a 
piece  of  Mary's  cake,  she  calls  it  jelly  cake,  but  to  me  it  looks 
like  a  streak  of  fat  and  a  streak  of  lean!" 
Fannie:      How    thrilling   it   must   have    been    to    really    have   known    the 

Lincolns! 
Mrs.  Thompson:     Well,  there  was  nothing  exciting  about  them  at  that 
time.     Just  kindly  everyday  folks,  they  were.     After  Mr.  Lincoln 


69 

was    elected    President,    Ave    did    feel    awfully    proud    of    him,    of 
course. 

Delia:      And   Mrs.   Lincoln — did   she   seem   different   to   you? 

Mrs.  Thompson  :  No,  I  don't  remember  that  she  did.  We  all  watched 
her  clothes  a  little  more  enviously  perhaps,  though  Mary  Todd 
always  was  a  good  dresser. 

Mrs.  Wilson:  I  remember  her  one  of  the  last  Sundays  before  she  left 
for  Washington.  Ashes  of  roses  was  the  fashionable  color  that 
season,  and  she  looked  lovely  in  it.  She  had  on  a  black  lace 
shawl  pinned  on  the  shoulders  with  geld  pins.  And  her  bonnet — 
well  it  wasn't  so  different,  really,  from  the  ones  we  wear  now. 
It  was  trimmed  with  three  short  white  plumes. 

Lulu:      Did  Mr.  Lincoln  seem  more  romantic  then,  too? 

Mrs.  Thompson  (laughing)  :  Romantic?  No,  Lulu,  Mr.  Lincoln  looked 
just  as  he  always  had  looked — a  tall  spare  man  in  a  badly  fit- 
ting frock  coat.  (Thoughtfully.)  Though,  I  believe  he  did 
change  some  way,  in  those  last  few  months  before  he  left  us.  He 
sat  in  the  pew  just  across  the  aisle  from  us,  you  know,  and  I 
remember  one  of  those  last  Sundays,  I  sat  and  looked  at  him, 
thinking  what  a  sad  face  his  was— unutterably  sad,  it  seemed, 
until  he  glanced  down  at  Tad,  asleep  beside  him,  and  then  I  saw 
the  kindly  twinkle  in  his  eyes,  and  I  forgot  the  sadness  of  a 
moment  before.  And  I  think  that's  the  way  I  remember  him 
best  perhaps,  by  the  kindly  gleam  of  his  eyes. 

Mrs.  Wilson:  I  wonder  if  it  wasn't  the  memories  of  Mr.  Lincoln  that 
made  us  hate  to  leave  the  old  church;  for  we  did  hate  to  leave 
it,  some  way,  even  for  this  bigger,  better  building.  At  the  end 
of  the  last  service  over  there,  some  one,  I  don't  know  who  it 
was,  for  it  was  all  so  impromptu,  but  some  one  started  to  sing 
in  a  clear  high  soprano,  "Home,  Sweet  Home,"  and  then  sud- 
denly we  all,  men  and  women,  found  ourselves  hand  in  hand, 
marching  down  the  broad  center  aisle,  singing — with  the  tears 
streaming  down  our  faces — "Home,  Sweet,  Sweet  Home."  Sue 
Heminway,  I  remember,  was  in  front  of  me  and  Ann  Mary 
Perkins,  Sue  Chenery  and  Agnes  Smith,  and  beyond  them,  I 
don't  know,  I  couldn't  see,  perhaps,  because  of  the  tears. 
(Large  vivacous  woman  appears   in  outer  doorway.) 

Lillie:     Now,  please  don't  tell  me  I'm  too  late  for  the  gossip. 

Julia:      Impossible,  the  gessip  never  starts  until  you  arrive. 

Lillie:      Thanks,  dear,  it's  nice  to  be  missed! 

(Mrs.  White  rises,  takes  wraps,  and  stands  holding  them  for 
part  of  conversation.) 

Mrs.  White.  Indeed  we  have  missed  you,  Lillie.  What  makes  you  so 
late? 

Lillie:  Oh,  a  most  exciting  experience!  I  started  long  ago,  but  just  as 
I  was  crossing  the  town  branch  bridge  at  Second  and  Madison, 
who  should  come  driving  by,  but  Tom  Mather! 

Julia:     Oh,  a  man  in  the  case!     I  suspected  as  much. 


70 

Lillie:     He  was  in  a  brand  new  buggy,  and  he  asked  if  I'd  like  to  go 
for  a  little  drive.     Well,  of  course,  I  couldn't  resist  Tom  Mather! 
Julia:     No,  nor  any  other  man! 
Jane:     You'd  better  look  out  for  Annie  Van  Bergen.     She's  making  eyes 

at  Tom  Mather,  herself! 
Lillie:     Well,  if  she  wants  him,  she  can  probably  find  him,  just  where 
I  left  him,  hub  deep  in  the  mud  on  the  east  side  of  the  square! 
Lule:     Oh,  Lillie,  how  awful,   do  tell  us  all  about  it. 
Lillie:      Tom  suggested  we  give  the  horse    a    try    out,    on    the    square, 
where  'twas  paved.     And  as  soon  as  we  reached  the  paving,  he 
gave  the  horses  a  cut  with  the  whip  and  off  they  flew!     And  you 
know  how  it  is,  going  fast  over  those  planked  roads,  especially 
after  they've  been  warped  by  the  rains!       Slop,    slop,    one    end 
down,  the  other  end  up,  mud  splashing,  horses'  hoofs  clattering, 
and   everybody   running  to   the   store   doors   to   see   what   it's   all 
about!      By   the    time    we'd    gone    round    the    square    once,    Tom 
was  so  proud   of  the  horses   speed,   that   he   hated   to   leave   the 
pavement,  and  he  suggested  we  drive  around  the  square  again. 
Fannie:     Oh,  Lillie,  but  you  didn't,  did  you? 
Julia:     Hah!     Didn't  she? 

Lillie:  Well,  I  knew  it  was  unladylike,  and  I  really  was  going  to  say 
no,  but  'twas  too  late.  Round  we  were  going  again,  and  by  this 
time  the  legislators  were  all  sticking  their  heads  out  the  win- 
dows of  the  Capitol  and  while,  of  course,  I  hated  to  be  so  con- 
spicuous, I  was  glad  I  had  on  my  ney  bombazine,  and  my  best 
bonnet  (preens).  But,  my  dears,  my  dears,  mine  was  the  pride 
that  goeth  before  a  fall! 
Mollie:     Why,   what   happened? 

Lillie:  Just  as  we  got  in  front  of  Kimber  and  Ragsdale's  store,  Louisa 
Williams  and  her  little  sister  Julia  came  out,  Louisa  raising  her 
parasol.  That  frightened  the  horse  next  the  walk,  and  he  shied, 
crashed  into  the  post  that  holds  up  the  awning,  and  crash  it 
came!  Boards  flying  every  which  way. 
Delia:  Those  long  awning  boards,  oh,  Lillie,  didn't  they  strike  you? 
Lllie:  No,  for  by  that  time  the  off  horse  had  jumped  in  the  opposite 
direction;  clean  off  the  narrow  strip  of  planked  road — right  into 
the  middle  of  the  street,  where  there  was  nothing  but  mud  be- 
tween me  and  China! 

(Lillie  walks  toward  quilt  and  seats  herself.) 
Sallie:     But,  Lillie,  weren't  you  frightened  to  death?     Just  think  of  it, 

helpless  behind  a  runaway  team! 
Lillie:     Runaway?     In    Springfield    mud?       Say,     the     only    way    those 
horses  could  go   was  down!      (A  moment's  pause.)      No,   Sallie, 
I  was  no  helpless  heroine  behind  a  runaway  team — I  was  merely 
a  lady  all  dressed  up  and  sinking  deeper  every  minute! 
Laura  :      But  how'd  you  get  out? 

Lillie:  (Brightening.)  La,  child,  they  do  say,  there's  a  silver  lining 
to  every  cloud!  George  Pasfield  carried  me  in  his  arms.  And 
my  hoop   skirt  tilted   the   tiniest    bit    and    exposed    my    ankle! 


71 

(Complacently.)      But  then  I've  rather  a  neat  ankle— even  if  I 

do  say  it.     (Lifts  skirts  and  sticks  out  foot.) 
(All  laugh,  Oh,  Sallie,  you're  so  vain,  etc.) 
Mrs.  White:     Excuse  me  girls,  and  I'll  go  see  about  refreshments. 

(Exits  through  dining  room  door.) 
Julia:     Well,  Lillie,  if  you're  through  occupying  the  center  of  the  stage, 

I'll  step  before  the  footlights. 

(All  turn  eagerly  toward  Julia.) 
Julia:     My  news  is  quite  as  thrilling  as  Lillie's — have  you  heard  about 

last  night's  session  meeting? 
Chorus:     No — what  happened? — session  meeting? — etc. 
Julia:     They  asked  Lizzie  Bunn  and  Lina    Black    to    resign    from    the 

Choir! 
Chorus:     Oh— Ah— Why?— etc. 
Julia:     For  unseemly  behavior!     And  personally,  I  think  they  deserved 

it.     They  sit  up  every  Sunday,  right  in  front  of  the  whole  con- 
gregation and  whisper  and  giggle  all  through  the  service! 
Jane:     Poor  girls,  think  of  the  disgrace!     What  did  they  do  when  they 

heard  it? 
Julia:     Giggled! 
Mollle:     Well,    I'm   awfully   fond   of   both    of   'em,   but   they   do   behave 

scandalously    in    Prayer     Meeting.      Sam    Jones'     little     infant 

prodigy,  Mabel,  plays  the  organ  now,  and  the  child  can  hardly 

keep  her  eyes   on   the   notes.     Last   Wednesday   the   girls   acted 

so  nighty  that  poor  little    Mabel    forgot    entirely    to    pump    the 

pedals. 
Julia:     But  that  was  only  the  beginning  of  the  meeting.     Somebody  had 

told  one  of  the  elders  that  Chris  Brown  and   Tom  Mather  had 

taken  Bettie  Stuart  and  Amelia  Craig  to  a  ball,  and  they  had  the 

girls  up  before  the  whole  session! 
Chorus:     Oh,  no,  not  really — how  dreadful — etc. 
Julia:     Yes,   Chris  is  worried   to   death  over   it,   because  of  Bettie,   you 

know,   he   doesn't  seem   to  care  a  bit  what  they  do  to  Amelia! 

But  that's  not  all,  they  had  Jane  Ridgely  up,  too. 
Sallie:     Poor  Jane.     When   the   fiddles  tune   up,  and   some   one  begins, 

"Salute  your  partners,    allemande    right,    allemande    left.     Well, 

Jane's  feet  just  won't  keep  still! 
Julia:     Well,  they  will  now,  the  elders  told  her  she'd  just  have  to  make 

'em  behave. 
Mollle:     Poor  Anna  Hudson,   she's  always    worried    over    Sister    Jane, 

'cause  Jane  won't   go   with   her   to  church  and   prayer  meeting, 

and  to  the  Home  of  the  Friendless  meetings. 

(Johnny  appears  in  doorway — dirty  as  can  be.) 
Johnny:     Hello!     Had  yer  ice  cream  yet? 
Chorus:     Oh,  Johnny,  come  on  in. 
Johnny:     Mother  there?   (peering  cautiously). 
Chorus  :     No. 
Johnny:     Then  we'll  come — 

(Comes  in,  leading  Mary  by  the  hand.) 


72 

Johnny:     Mary'll  sing  if  you  want  her  to,  and  I'll  speak  a  piece. 

(Pushes  Mary  to  front,  saying,  "Sing  now,  I  Tell  You.") 
(Mary  sings— Johnny   pushes   her   away   before   she  finishes, 
and  recites: 
Johnny:     You'd  scarce  expect  one  of  my  age 
To  speak  in  public  on  the  stage. 
And  should  I  chance  to  fall  below. 
Demosthesnes  and  Cicero, 
Don't  view  me  with  a  critic's  eye, 
But  pass  my  imperfections   by. 

Mrs.  White's   voice   from    dining   room: 
Will  you  come  out  to  the  dining  room,  please? 
(Steps   to  doorway,  ushers  them  in  dining  room,  turns  and 
sees  dirty  children.) 
Mrs.  White:     Johnny  !  !  ! 
Curtain. 


MUSIC 

Solo  (or  Duet) Patriotic  Son; 

(Male  Voices) 


CHORUS   READ   BEFORE   EPISODE   IV. 

And  now  the  roll  of  drums  is  heard, 
The  marching  feet  of  soldier  boys 
The  sorrow  of  whose  death  is  ours — 
And  yet  from  out  this  struggle  grim 
A  man  emerges; 
Too  soon  a  martyr  to  a  glorious  cause. 

The  world  stands  awed,  and  well  it  may, 

Before  his  tomb. 

But  we,  within  this  church,  we  knew  him  well. 

A  kindly,  quiet  man  was  he. 

A  comrade  to  us  all. 

And  this  our  need  of  praise. 

What  need  to  add  to  all  that  has  been  said— 
We  knew  him  well,  and  loved  him  well 
And  while  he  lives  within  our  hearts 
Can  he  be  dead? 


73 

FOURTH   EPISODE 
THE  STORY  OF  THE  LINCOLN   PEW. 

THE    LINCOLN    PEW. 
By  W.   Edgar  Sampson. 

In  a  recent  book  entitled,  "The  Religion  of  the  Presidents,"  an 
eminent  author  has  lately  told  the  story  of  the  deep  religious  nature, 
and  the  essential  Christian  faith  of  Abraham  Lincoln.  But  here  wheie 
Lincoln  lived,  where  he  practiced  his  profession,  where  he  rose  to  fame, 
whence  he  left  to  guide  the  destinies  of  a  nation  in  its  hour  of  deepest 
gloom,  where  he  lies  buried,  and  where,  within  the  memory  of  all,  lived 
men  who  knew  him  well,  we  need  not  go  to  books  to  learn  of  the  faith 
and  hope  of  that  great  and  immortal  man. 

In  his  early  manhood  he  formed  the  habit  of  attending  divine  serv- 
ice, and  looking  for  light  in  the  Book  of  Books,  and  that  habit  continued 
with  him  through  life.  His  speeches,  his  letters  and  his  matchless  State 
papers  drew  their  theme,  their  style  and  their  inspiration  from  the 
Christian  Bible. 

His  close  association  with  this  historic  church,  began  when  its 
pastor,  the  devout  and  learned  Rev.  James  Smith  officiated  at  the  burial 
of  Mr.  Lincoln's  second  son.  Oppressed  and  stricken  as  he  was  by  this 
great  bereavement,  he  found  comfort  and  guidance  in  a  book  then  lately 
written  by  his  friend  Dr.  Smith,  entitled,  "The  Christian's  Defense."  At 
the  conclusion  of  the  reading  of  that  book  Dr.  Smith  tells  us — 

"He  came  forth,  his  doubts  shattered,  and  his  reason  convinced,  a 
believer  in  God,  in  his  providential  government,  in  his  Son,  the  way, 
the  truth  and  the  life.  And  from  that  time  on  his  life  has  proved  the 
genuineness  of  his  conversion  to  the  Christian  faith." 

Thereafter,  although  without  formal  membership,  his  devotion,  his 
loyalty  and  his  worship  never  ended.  Broken  though  that  relationship  to 
this  church  was  by  his  election  to  the  Presidency,  his  church  connection 
was  resumed  at  Washington  by  his  regular  attendance  upon  the  services 
of  the  New  York  Avenue  Presbyterian  Church  of  that  city. 

I  stand  tonight  beside  the  Pew  where  Lincoln  used  to  sit,  Sunday 
after  Sunday — in  the  old  church — the  old  First  Presbyterian  Church  that 
stood  at  the  corner  of  Third  Street  and  Washington  Street  in  this  city. 
It  was  then  known  as  Pew  No.  20.  There,  week  after  week,  came  the 
future  President  with  his  family.  They  used  to  charge  pew  rent  in  those 
days,  and  among  the  priceless  treasures  of  this  church  are  the  receipted 
bills  for  the  rent  of  this  pew  found  among  the  possession  of  President 
Lincoln  after  his  death,  and  thereafter  presented  to  this  church  by  his 
son  Robert  T.  Lincoln.  And  this  pew  was  subsequently  removed  to  its 
present  place  in  the  First  Presbyterian  Church  through  the  generosity 
of  the  late  John  W.  Bunn,  one  of  the  last  survivors  of  the  close  personal 
friends  of  Abraham  Lincoln. 

Here  Lincoln  came,  here  he  sat,  here  he  sought,  and  here  he  found, 
hope,  inspiration,  strength.  And  to  this  pew,  to  this  church,  to  this  city, 
to  this  last  resting  place  of  the  Great  Emancipator,  the  world  turns 
more  and  more — for  it  is  indeed  a  shrine  of  one  of  earth's  immortals. 


74 

MUSIC 
Miss  Nettleton  and  Mr.  Killius. 

CHORUS  READ  BEFORE  EPISODE  V. 

The  Hand  of  God  guides  as  of  old; 

His  strength,  His  love  still  helps  us  build 

And  though   the  tasks  may   differ   now, 

The  tasks  are   His. 

New  needs  have  come,  new  problems  with  new  times, 

Yet  still  we  build. 

And  you  who  fear  our  faith  grows  dim 

Our  strength  grows  less  as  time  goes  on, 

Pause  now,  and  look  upon  our  church; 

Her  growth,  her  work  in  many  paths; 

Her  field  which  broadens  with  the  years — 

Ponder  these  things,  and  still  your  fears! 

FIFTH   EPISODE 
OUR  CHURCH  TODAY. 

Scene:  Reproduction  of  our  Church  Office,  with  stack  of  primary  chairs 
stacked  in  corner. 

Characters:  Miss  Jacobs,  Dr.  Thomas,  Mrs.  Edwards,  Mr.  Todd,  Mrs. 
Gibson,  Girl  Scout,  Virginia  Coffield,  Thelma  Ramsey,  Miss 
Nettleton,  Mr.  Needham,  Mr.  Macpherson,  Miss  Cunningham, 
Mrs.  Thomas,  Katie  Whittaker,  Mr.  Cassidy,  First  Boy  Scout, 
Second  Boy  Scout,  Man  (bridegroom),  Girl  (bride),  Mr.  Black. 
(Telephone  bell  is  ringing  as  curtain  rises  on  church  office. 
Miss  Jacobs  is  at  phone.) 

Miss  Jacobs:  First  Presbyterian  Church.  No,  Dr.  Thomas  hasn't  come 
yet.  May  I  take  the  message?  *  *  *  Oh,  yes,  you  want  me 
to  tell  him  you  had  a  letter  from  a  dear  old  Aunt  who  gets  his 
sermons  on  her  radio?  *  *  *  Yes,  it  must  be  a  blessing  to 
a  woman  of  that  type,  way  out  on  a  lonely  farm.  *  *  *  Yes, 
it's  a  comfort  to  Dr.  Thomas  to  know  as  he  broadcasts,  that  he 
has  a  sympathetic  audience,  listening  in.  *  *  *  Yes,  it  is 
marvelous,  isn't  it?     Well,  I'll  tell  him.     Thank  you. 

(Makes  a  note  and  sticks   it  on   file,   seats  herself   at   desk, 
telephone  rings.) 

Miss  Jacobs:  First  Presbyterian  Church.  *  *  *  No,  not  yet 
*  *  *  The  Old  Ladies'  Home?  *  *  *  And  she  wants  Dr. 
Thomas  to  come  see  her?  Very  well,  I'm  sure  he'll  be  there  this 
afternoon.     Goodbye. 

(Makes   a   note,   files   it,  and   seats   herself   for   work.     Tele- 
phone rings,  she  answers.) 

Miss  Jacobs:  First  Presbyterian  Church.  This  is  Miss  Jacobs.  You 
want  to  sell  your  fur  coat?  No,  I  don't  know  of  anyone  who 
wants  one.     Advertise  it  in  the  Church  Bulletin?     Well,  I  could 


75 

hardly  do  that,  you  know.     (Hopefully.)     But  I'll  tell  you  what 
I  will  do.     I'll  ask  everyone  who  comes  in  if  they  know  of  any- 
one who  wants  a  fur  coat.     Oh,  not  at  all,  goodbye. 
(Dr.  Thomas  enters,  coat  on,  hat  in  hand.) 

Dr.  Thomas:  Well,  well,  so  you're  going  into  the  second  hand  business 
too.  Taking  on  a  good  many  side  lines,  I'll  say.  Promised  to  find 
a  house  for  a  woman  yesterday  as  well  as  a  practical  nurse  for 
a  small  child  and  now  you're  selling  fur  coats.  If  you've  any 
time  left  for  mere  church  business,  could  you  tell  me  if  you've 
any  messages  for  me? 

Miss  Jacobs:  If  variety  makes  for  spice,  my  job's  well  seasoned,  I'll 
say.  But  I  have  had  a  few  moments  for  my  real  work.  Here 
are  my  notes — and  you're  not  to  forget  you've  a  funeral  service 
this  afternoon,  and  a  meeting  of  the  ministerial  board. 

(Dr.    Thomas    stands    reading    notes    from    file.     Telephone 
rings.) 

Miss  Jacobs:  Oh,  good  morning,  Mrs.  Ide,  more  names  for  the  Cradle 
Roll?  That's  fine,  wait  till  I  get  paper  and  pencil,  please. 
(Gets  them  at  desk.)  All  ready,  (writes)  Shirley  Marie  Livings- 
ston,  James  Thayer  Mohon,  Eleanor  Muir  Smith,  Elizabeth 
Olinger.  That  all?  Yes,  we  should  have  another  baby  party 
soon.  Have  to  wait  till  it  turns  warmer,  though.  Mothers  won't 
bring  'em  out,  this  kind  of  weather.  Goodbye. 
(Enter   Mrs.   Edwards.) 

Mrs.  Edwards:  Good  morning,  have  the  quarterlies  for  the  Home  De- 
partment come  yet? 

Miss  Jacobs:     Yes,  they're  all  there  in  the  closet. 

Mrs.  Edwards:  It's  a  little  cold  in  the  hall,  I'll  sort  and  tie  them  for 
distribution  in  here  if  you  don't  mind. 

(She  seats  herself  on  lounge,  sorts  and  ties  quarterlies.) 
(Miss  Jacobs  answers  telephone.) 

Miss  Jacobs:     Yes,  he's  right  here,  Mr.  Krogdahl.     Dr.  Thomas. 

Dr.  Thomas:  Good  morning,  sir,  good  morning  *  *  *  The  ushers 
want  to  know  about  seating  visitors?  Why,  give  them  the  best 
seats  in  the  church.  Make  'em  feel  they've  found  a  comfortable 
place  to  spend  all  their  Sunday  mornings.  *  *  *  Oh,  no,  the 
regular  members  will  be  glad  to  have  visitors  in  their  pews,  but 
if  anyone  should  object,  you  might  suggest  to  them  that  the  best 
way  to  avoid  such  a  thing  is  to  fill  up  the  pews  with  their  own 
families.     *     *     *     Fine,  goodbye. 

(Mr.    Todd    has    entered    while    Dr.    Thomas   is    at   the    tele- 
phone.) 

Mr.  Miller:  Good  morning,  folks.  (Turns  to  Dr.  Thomas.)  I  want  to 
tell  you  of  my  wonderful  new  plan  for  getting  the  grown-ups  out 
to   Sunday   School. 

Dr.  Thomas:     A  plan  that's  guaranteed  to  bring  'em  out? 

Mr.  Miller:     Absolutely. 

Dr.  Thomas:  Don't  tell  me  there's  nothing  new  under  the  sun!  Come 
up  into  the  study  and  tell  me  all  about  it. 

(As  they  exit,  arm  in  arm,  Miss  Jacobs  calls  mockingly.) 


76 

Miss  Jacobs:     Oh,  Mr.  Miller,  better  get  that  idea  patented! 

(Telephone  rings  and  Miss  Jacobs  answers.) 
Miss  Jacobs:     First    Presbyterian    Church,    yes,    Mrs.    Wright     *     *     * 
The  Woman's  Auxiliary— Circle  No.  10— Church  Supper— Friday, 
yes,  '111  see  that  the  Bulletin  prints  a  nice  notice     *     *     *     Sure, 
I'll  ask  for  a  large  attendance.     Goodbye. 

(Makes  note  and  starts  to  work.  Enter  Mrs.  Gibson  and  one 
girl  scout  in  costume.) 
Mrs.  Gibson:  We  came  to  get  some  of  the  things  we  left  in  the  kitchen 
last  night.  You  should  have  seen  that  supper  the  girls  cooked 
for  their  parents.  Everything  was  awfully  good.  As  for  the 
parents,  it  was  fine  to  watch  'em.  They  were  all  so  swelled  up 
with  pride. 
Girl  Scout:  Swelled  with  pride,  I'll  say  that  wasn't  what  puffed  'em 
up.  My  father  ate  three  pieces  of  pie — and  say,  you  ought  to 
see  Katherine  Gibson's  father  put  away  the  food!  Swelled  with 
pride,  hah! 

(Mrs.  Gibson  says,  "Come,"  exits.  Miss  Jacobs  goes  to 
phone.) 
Miss  Jacobs:  Main  3628.  Hello,  Mr.  Robert  Hudson?  Miss  Jacobs, 
speaking.  We're  ready  to  make  up  the  annual  report.  Have  you 
the  Sunday  School  Treasurer's  statement?  *  *  *  Fine,  I'll 
stop  and  get  it  this  noon.  *  *  *  Practically  $500.00!  Won't 
that  make  Dr.  Thomas  feel  good!     Yes,  thanks,  goodbye. 

Capitol  2174.  Mrs.  Hoover?  Where  did  you  tell  me  the 
Mizpahs  were  to  meet  this  week?  *  *  *  Miss  Whitecrafts. 
Yes,  I  hear  ycu  made  over  $400.00  at  the  Christmas  Bazaar.  I 
think  you  women  are  perfect  wonders,  and  you  certainly  do 
make  lovely  things.  I  wanted  at  least  a  dozen  of  those 
luncheon  sets.     *     *     *     Yes,   goodbye. 

(While   Miss   Jacobs    is   at   phone   Thelma    Ramsey   and   Vir- 
ginia Coffield  have  entered.) 
Virginia:     Oh.    Miss    Jacobs,    the    Junior    Intermediates    simply   have    to 
have  some  more  magazines  with  colored  pictures.     The  Crippled 
Children  out  at  Riverton  just  loved  those  scrap  books  we  made 
'em — and  we  haven't  half  enough  to  go  round. 
Miss   Jacobs:      I'll   ask  the   ladies   at   the   Missionary    Society   this   after- 
noon, Virginia. 
Thelma:      And  Miss  Jacobs — you  don't  think  this  cold  weather  will  in- 
terfere with  the  Young  People's  Twilight  tea,  do  you? 
Miss  Jacobs:     How  silly,  Thelma.     Why  a  real  cold  Sunday  Twilight  is 
the  very  coziest  time  for  tea.     The  colder  the  weather,  the  more 
sandwiches  you'll  eat. 

(Telephone  rings — girls  exit.     Miss  Jacobs  answers  phone.) 
Miss  Jacobs:     First  Presbyterian  Church.     Yes,  Mr.  Diller,  Dr.  Thomas 
will   be  so   relieved  to  know  you  located   those   people.     I   don't 
know  what  we'd  do  without  you,  to  help  us  out.     You  certainly 


know   our   church   history,    and    as    for   the   old   session   minutes, 
why,  I  believe  you  know  them  by  heart.     Goodbye. 

(Enter  Miss  Cunningham    and    seats    herself.     Works    over 
books  while  Miss  Jacobs  is  telephoning.) 
(Enter   Miss   Nettleton.) 

Miss   Nettletox:      Good   morning.      Cold,    isn't   it?      There's   the   musical 
program   for    Sunday's   Bulletin.      If   it's    not    too     cold     in     the 
church,  think  I'll  go  up  and  practice  on  the  organ  a  while.    Hope 
my  fingers  won't  freeze. 
(Enter  Mr.  Needham.) 

Mr.   Needham:      Good   morning,   Miss   Jacobs. 

Miss  Jacobs:  Oh,  Mr.  Needham,  I'm  so  glad  you  came,  don't  you  want 
a  nice  fur  coat,  seal  skin  with  squirrel — 

Mr.  Needham:      A  fur  coat?     What  would  I  do  with  a  fur  coat? 

Miss  Jacobs:  Oh,  I  don't  care  what  you'd  do  with  it.  I  simply  want  to 
sell  it.  You  see,  I  promised  a  church  member  I'd  speak  about 
it  to  every  one  who  came,  and  I  forgot  it  till  just  now.  It's  a 
lovely  coat — seal  skin  with  squirrel — 

Mr.  Needham:  Say,  don't  you  mention  that  coat  to  my  wife — Anyway, 
I  didn't  come  to  talk  fur  coats.  I  came  to  get  some  new  songs 
for  the  Young  People's  Department. 

Miss  Jacobs:  The  books  are  all  in  the  closet.  (As  Mr.  Needham  exits.) 
Say,  if  you  should  decide  to  buy  that  coat 

Mr.  Needham:      (From  off  stage.)     Not  me. 

(Telephone  rings,  Miss  Jacobs  answers.) 

Miss  Jacobs:  First  Presbyterian  Church.  Oh,  yes,  Miss  Winters,  the 
Sunday  School  supplies  are  all  here.  Came  yesterday  *  *  * 
This  afternoon?  Yes,  I'll  be  out  on  my  calls,  and  you  may  have 
the  office  all  to  yourself.  Plenty  of  room  to  sort  them  out,  and 
I  hope  you'll  have  no  interruptions.     Goodbye. 

Miss  Jacobs:  Main  95.  Hello,  may  I  speak  to  Miss  Vera  Smith?  Oh, 
Miss  Smith,  this  is  Miss  Jacobs.  Does  the  Dorcas  Society  have  a 
meeting  this  week?  *  *  *  Oh,  I  see,  the  Dorcas  has  made 
how    many    baby    garments?     *     *     *     flannelette  night  gowns? 

*  *     *     well,  there  ought  not  be  a  baby  in  this  town  that  isn't 
all    nice    and    warm — you     certainly     are     an     energetic     society 

*  *     *     Very  well,  thanks. 

(While  Miss  Jacobs  has  been  at  phone,  Dr.  Thomas  has 
come  in,  gone  over  to  Miss  Cunningham's  desk,  and  stands  and 
talks  with  her.     Enter  Mr.  Macpherson.) 

Mr.  Macpherson:  Morning.  Here's  the  financial  statement  of  the 
Church,  all  ready  for  the  annual  report.  They're  in  fine  condi- 
tion financially,  all  pledges  paid  up  to  date — and  our  outstand- 
ing debts  not  big  enough  to  make  us  lose  sleep  over  'em.  Of 
course,  it  doesn't  read  like  the  report  of  1919— your  second  year 
here.  That  sure  was  a  banner  year,  $75,000  pledged.  The 
largest  amount  ever  pledged  at  any  cne  time,  in  the  whole  his- 
tory of  the  Church,  wasn't  it? 

Dr.  Thomas:  Yes,  I  believe  so.  But  I've  no  doubt  that  if  we  needed 
that    much    again,    we    would    raise    it.      This    church    always 


responds,  whenever  the  call's  made.  That  year,  our  need  hap- 
pened to  be  greater,  that's  all.  We  needed  a  new  chapel,  and  a 
better  basement,  dining  room  and  kitchen.  Our  old  spires  were 
a  menace,  both  to  the  church  itself,  and  the  passing  pedestrians 
and  had  to  be  rebuilt.  Our  debt  on  the  organ  was  an  ever-present 
worry  and  so  we  paid  it.  And  we  bought  a  manse.  The  first 
manse  our  church  has  ever  owned.  Yes,  1919  was  a  banner  year, 
and  we'll  have  a  banner  year  everytime  we  need  one.  Don't  you 
forget  that. 
Mr.  Macpherson:  Well,  I'll  go  back  to  the  bank  now,  pretty  busy  there, 
these  days.     Miss  Cunningham  has  the  rest  of  the  statement. 

(Mr.  Macpherson  exits,  and  after  he  disappears  Miss  Jacobs 
calls  after  him.) 
Miss  Jacobs:     Oh,  Mr.  Macpherson,  you  don't  want  to  buy  a   seal  skin 
coat  with  squirrel — Pshaw,  he  didn't  hear. 

(As  Miss  Cunningham  gathers  papers  together  and  starts  to 
leave.) 
Miss  Cunningham:  This  is  the  report  of  church  mission  funds,  Dr. 
Thomas,  and  this  the  current  expense  report.  Everyone  is  keep- 
ing up  with  the  pledges,  quite  promptly.  With  a  resident  mem- 
bership of  over  one  thousand  people,  it's  surprising  how  few  un- 
pleasant things  come  up. 

(Dr.  Thomas  takes  reports  and  glances  through  them.) 
Dr.  Thomas:     Let's  see,  with  all  our  organizations,  we  contribute  a  total 
of  $14,000  to  benevolences  and  our  budget  runs  between  $16,000 
and  $17,000.     Fine. 

(Miss  Cunningham  exits  and  Mrs.  Thomas  enters.  Dr. 
Thomas  makes  a  low  and  elaborate  bow.) 
Dr.  Thomas:  Good  morning,  Miss  Ethel,  and  what  can  I  do  for  you  this 
morning?  Did  you  come  to  talk  with  Miss  Jacobs,  or  did  you 
wish  to  see  me  on  a  (reaches  for  pocket-book)  little  matter  of 
— 'er — home  missions?  (Opens  purse.) 
Mrs.  Thomas:  Well,  I  really  came  to  talk  Missions  with  Miss  Jacobs. 
(Walking  toward  him  with  outstretched  hand.)  But,  they  do 
say  charity  begins  at  home.  (Takes  money.)  Thanks.  (And 
speaks  to  Miss  Jacobs.) 

(Donna  Deal  enters,  Donna's  arms  full  of  dolls.) 
Dr.  Thomas:      (Picking  up  a  baby  doll.)     That's  right,  Donna,  start  them 
to  church  when  they're  young.     Is  this  one    to    be    put    on    the 
cradle  roll? 

(Mrs.  Thomas  exits.) 
Donna:      She's  only  a  doll,  really.     The  Light  Bearers  are  dressing  lots 
of  them  to   send   to   Mrs.  Friedinger,   for   the   poor  little   Syrian 
girls  who  haven't  any.     Aren't  they  dear? 

(Dr.  Thomas  has  left  room  meanwhile.  Telephone  rings  and 
girls  leave  at  Miss  Jacobs  answers.) 
Miss  Jacobs:  First  Presbyterian  Church.  *  *  *  Yes,  Mrs.  Sikes,  we 
were  so  delighted  to  hear  that  you  needed  more  chairs  for  the 
little  tots.  We  ordered  them  right  away,  and  they're  here  now. 
*     *     *     They're  darling  little  red  chairs,  too,  and  the  children 


79 

will  have  to  sit  still,  cause  there's  not  room  on  'em  to  wiggle 
about  *  *  *  Oh,  is  Mrs.  Miller  there  too?  Well,  will  you 
please  tell  her  we've  some  new  money  boxes  for  the  Primary 
Department  made  in  the  shape  of  little  churches.  I  don't  be- 
lieve the  children  can  resist  dropping  in  their  pennies. 

(While  at  the   phone  Mr.   Cassicly   and   two  boy  scouts    (in 
costume)  have  entered.) 
Mr.  Cassiday:     Br-r-r-r-r,  it's  cold.     I   hope  the  wind   dies  down   before 
night.     Big  coon   hunt,   you   know — all   the   troops    in   town,   and 
we've  asked  the  ministers  to  join  us. 
First  Scout:     Yes,  and  we're  going  to  have  burgoo! 
Miss  Jacobs:     And  what's  burgoo? 
Second  Scout:     Food,  that's  what    attracts    the    ministers.     Hope    they 

leave  enough  for  us  kids. 
Mr.  Cassidy:     Come,  boys,  let's  go  down  and  get  our  paraphanalia. 

(As  they  exit.) 
First  Scout:     I  feel  awful  sorry  for  you,  Miss  Jacobs,   'cause   you're  a 
girl,  you  know. 

(Miss  Jacobs  gets  to   work  at  desk.     Man  appears   in  door- 
way.    Woman   some  distance   behind.) 
Man:     Er'a  hem — is  the  preacher  in? 
Miss  Jacobs:     Yes,  he's  here,  but  he's  busy  just  at  present,  anything  I 

can  do  for  you? 
Man:      (Hesitatingly.)      No,     no,    I     guess    not,    I    wanted    to     see    the 

preacher. 
Miss  Jacobs:     Well,  if  it's  important.  I  can  call  him.     (Silence.) 
Miss  Jacobs:     Is  it  important? 

Man:     Er,  no,  er,  rather  I  meant  to  say,  er,  yes,  I,  er,  we  came . 

(Man  walks  in  cautiously,  leans  over  desk  and  whispers.) 
Miss  Jacobs:     Oh!      So  that's  it!      Well,   I'd  call  that  rather   important 
business.     Sit  down,  both  of  you,  and  I'll  call  the  preacher. 

(Miss  Jacobs  walks  toward  door.     Man  follows  after  her  and 
whispers.) 
Miss  Jacobs:     Yes,  the  law  requires  two,  but  the  sexton's  down  stairs, 
I'll  call  him. 

(Miss  Jacobs  walks  to  door   on   opposite   side  of   room   and 
calls.) 
Miss   Jacobs:     Oh,   Mr.   Black,   Mr.    Black,    there's    a    couple     up    here, 
waiting. 

(Then  walks  to  main  door  and  exits  calling.) 
Miss  Jacobs:     Dr.  Thomas,  Oh,  Dr.  Thomas.     Here's  a  wedding  fee  for 

your  wife. 
Girl:      (Anxiously.)     You  didn't  forget  the  ring,  did  you? 

(Man  hunts  in  vest  pocket,  transfers  hat  to  other  hand  and 
hunts  in  other  vest  pocket.  Hands  hat  to  girl  and  starts  hunt- 
ing madly  through  all  pockets.) 

(Dr.  Thomas  and  Miss  Jacobs  enter  and  from  other  side, 
Mr.  Black,  rolling  down  shirt  sleeves.) 

CURTAIN 


80 


We  include  a  number  of  pages  of  interesting  facts  and  a  list  of 
valuable  possessions  of  the  church.  Many  more,  of  course,  might  be. 
We  have  had  in  mind,  in  including  some  of  these  items  and  papers,  simply 
preserving  them  for  posterity.  The  Roll  of  Officers;  The  Memorial  Win- 
dows; Centennial  Committees;  The  Memorials;  The  Church  Bulletin; 
The  Invitations  and  Program;  Soldiers'  Memorial  Tablet;  The  Memorial 
Tablet  to  Ministers;  The  Centennial  Dinner  Picture;  Pictures  of  the 
Church  Secretaries;  The  Five  Generations,  and  last  and  most  important 
of  all,  "The   Mistress  of  the  Manse." 


81 


Those  who  have  served  the  Church  as  Elders  or  Deacons  and  the 
date  of  ordination  of  each  is  given  below'.  In  1914,  the  Church  voted  to 
adopt  the  Rotary  or  Limited  Term  Plan.  Several  have  therefore  served 
more  than  once.  A  complete  record  of  terms  and  changes  are  in  the 
hands  of  the  Clerk  of  the   Session. 


ROLL  OF   ELDERS. 


Name. 


Ordained. 


John   Moore    January  30 

Samuel   Reid    January  30 

Isaiah  Stillman   January  30 

John  H.   Moore January  30 

Ebenezer   S.   Phelps January  3 

Elijah   Slater    January  3 

James  L.  Lamb June  4 

Joseph  Torrey    June  4 

Edmund  R.  Wiley June  4 

James  M.   Duncan December  1 

Asahel  Stone   October  16 

Joseph  K.  Lewis January  1 

Edmund    G.    Jones January  1 

Henry   C.   Remann January  1 

John  Todd,   M.   D June  22 

Henry  Van  Hoff July  11 

Robert   Officer April 

Thomas  Lewis   August 

Thomas  H.   Bergen October  31 

William  A.   Bennett October  31 

Josiah   Waddeil    October  31 

Thos.  S.  Henning,  M.  D February  8 

Richard  H.  Beach October  13 

Christopher  C.   Brown October  13 

William   H.   Hayden October  13 

James   P.   Bryce October  13 

James   L.   Lamb October  13 

John  S.  Vredenburgh October  13 

Joshua    G.    Lamb December  19 

Roland    W.    Diller December  19 

Daniel  C.   Brown December  19 

Edward   P.    Beach December  19 

John  W.  Dalbey December  19 

George  B.  Hemenway December  19 

Andrew  M.   Brooks , December  19 

George  White  December,  19 

A.  A.  Patteson,  M.  D September  14 

Alexander  L.   Patteson August  11 

Thomas  Condell   July  3 

George  B.  Winston July  3 

Walter  E.   Edmonds July  3 

Lewis   S.   Miller July  3 


1828 
1828 
1828 
1828 
1832 
1832 
1835 
1837 
1837 
1839 
1842 
1849 
1849 
1849 
1849 
1850 
1854 
1854 
1857 
1857 
1857 
1861 
1867 
1867 
1867 
1867 
1872 
1872 
1880 
1880 
1880 
1880 
1880 
1880 
1880 
1880 
1885 
1893 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 


Name.  Ordained. 

Isaac  R.  Diller July  3,  1905 

Ralph  N.  Baker June  4,  1909 

Charles   M.   Bowcock June  4>  1909 

David    A.    DeVares June  4,  1909 

Edward  R.  Talbott June  4,  1909 

Fred   S.  Brown April  10,  1912 

Robert   T.   Brown January  28,  1914 

John  L.  Pickering April  1,  1914 

Warren   R.    Bailey January  28,  1914 

D.   D.  Flanner January  28,  1914 

Harry  C.  Barnes January  27,  1915 

John  E.  George January  27,  1915 

Charles  F.  Mills January  28,  1914 

R.  Francis  Ruth January  26,  1916 

Shelby  C.  Dorwin January  27,  1915 

John  C.  Hanna January  26,  1916 

W.  Edgar  Sampson April  25,  1917 

Barnard  L.  Catron April  6,  1921 

Grafton   Munroe    January  28,  1920 

Wilbur  C.  Hoover January  28,  1920 

George   M.   Wilson January  28,  1920 

James  H.  Danley January  28,  1920 

Noah  C.  Bainum January  28,  1920 

L.   ML   Cunningham April  6,  1921 

Frank  H.  McKelvey January  4,  1922 

Albert  H.  Rankin April  4,  1923 

James  M.  Furry April  4,  1923 

Berton  W.   Hole April  2,  1924 

Julian  L.   Vallette April  1,  1925 

Edward   M.   Majors April  7,  1926 

Henry  L.  Child March  30,  1927 

Clarence  O.  Miller March  30,  1927 

Church  G.  Todd March  30,  1927 

H.  M.  Thrasher November  16,  1927 

Harry    P.    Jones January  11,  1928 

Alex.  B.  Macpherson January  11,  1928 


83 


ROLL  OF  DEACONS. 
Name.  Ordained. 


Edward  P.  Beach July 

Edwin  A.  Wilson July 

S.  C.  Runyan October 

John  T.   Stuart February 

R.   F.  Ruth January 

Frederick    W.    Sutton January 

Henry  Van  Hoff January 

George  B.  Hemenway January 

William  A.  Turney January 

William  C.   Cowgill January 

Thomas   Condell    January 

LaRue   Vredenburgh    January 

Charles  F.  Mills January 

Samuel   H.    Gehlman January 

Joseph  B.   Perkins January 

George  B.  Winston January 

Harry  B.  Allen January 

Austin   A.   Taylor August 

Ralph  N.  Baker July 

Albert  Carver    July 

George  A.  Farmer July 

Grafton  Munroe    July 

Charles  H.  Sutton July 

Edward  R.   Talbott July 

Warren  R.  Bailey July 

Thomas    L.    Jarrett July 

Charles  L.   Patton July 

Albert   H.   Rankin July 

Shelby  C.  Dorwin January 

R.  Francis  Ruth January 

Samuel    J.    Willett January 

S.  O.  Pearce April 

William  A.  Baker January 

Alex.   B.   Macpherson,  Jr January 

George  M.  Wilson January 

Harry  A.   Barnes April 

Ogden  B.  Munroe April 

Alfred   Booth    January 

Charles  L.  Patton January 

John  E.  George April 

John  P.  Lloyd January 

Thomas  English    January 

Otho  A.  Gillin January 

Carley  H.  Hoy April 

David  Chandler  Prince January 

William   Harding    January 

Benjamin  F.  M.  Cassiday April 

George  E.  Morton January 


1867 
1867 
1867 
1869 
1877 
1877 
1877 
1877 
1877 
1877 
1877 
1890 
1890 
1890 
1890 
1891 
1891 
1893 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1905 
1909 
1909 
1909 
1909 
1914 
1914 
1914 
1914 
1914 
1914 
1914 
1914 
1915 
1914 
1914 
1914 
1915 
1915 
1915 
1917 
1917 
1917 
1917 
1919 


84 

Name.  Ordained. 

Elmer  R.  Cogswell January,  1920 

Clarence  E.  Dauner January,  1920 

Allen  G.  Call January,  1920 

Walter  S.  Todd January,  1920 

Charles  G.  Maxwell January,  1920 

Henry  H.  Jannssen January,  1920 

Louis  J.  Titus ". January,  1920 

Frederick   S.    Sperry January,  1920 

Prank  H.   McKelvey April,  1921 

J.  Fleetwood  Connelly April,  1921 

Roger   E.   Chapin April,  1921 

Robert   S.   Hudson March,  1922 

Harry  M.  Thrasher March,  1922 

John    H.    Nims ■  .March,  1922 

Alexis  E.   Stoddard March,  1922 

Julian  L.  Vallette April,  1924 

Sven   J.   Krogdahl April,  1923 

Edgar    S.   Boyd April,  1923 

Albert   C.    Millspaugh April,  1923 

Charles  M.  Fox April,  1925 

Church  G.  Todd April,  1924 

Donald   O.   Needham April,  1924 

Elmer  C.  Whittaker April,  1925 

Clarence  F.  Brumbach April,  1925 

Robert  P.   Butts April,  1925 

Paul  W.  Pickering April,  1925 

W.  I.  Woodruff December,  1926 

Charles  M.  Fox April,  1926 

Herman  Helmle    April,  1926 

Harold  C.  George April,  1926 

Christopher  B.  Stuart April,  1926 

Ross  L.  Weller March,  1927 


85 


The  church  has  six  memorial  windows;  each  one  the  highest 
work  of  art  and  greatly  admired  by  a  host  of  visitors.  They  are 
dedicated  and   inscribed  as  below: 

1.  To  the  glory  of  God  and  in  loving  remembrance  of 

Bernard   Stuve  Mary  L.  Wilson  Stuve 

Wilson  Stuve  Eleanor   Illinois    Stuve 

Mary  C.   Stuve  Clementine   Stuve  Knudson 

Alice  Stuve  Jarrett 


In  memory  of  a  beloved  father, 

Benjamin  Stephenson  Edwards. 

Born  1818— Died   1886. 

Kept  by  the  power  of  God — Through  faith   unto  salvation. 


Sarah  Irwin  Ferguson  Elizabeth  Ferguson  Bunn 

1806—1886  1832—1886 

Sarah  Bunn  Jones 

1856—1892. 


Stuart  Brown 
1860—1924 
There    is    a    prince    and    a 
great    man    fallen    this    day. 


Kate  Hay  Brown 
1864—1923. 
Give    her    the    fruit    of    her 
hands  and  let  her  own  works 
praise  her  in  the  gates. 


Christopher  C.  Brown 

October  21,  1834, 

May  6,  1904. 


To  the  glory  of  God  and  in  loving  remembrance  of 

Mrs.  Mary  McKee  Homes 

For  eighteen  years  principal  of  the 

Bettie   Stuart  Institute. 

By  her  devoted  pupils. 


86 


CENTENNIAL    COMMITTEES. 

1.  Homecoming — 

Mr.  Shelby  C.  Dorwin,  Mrs.  A.  E.  Prince,  Mrs.  L.  L.  Flinn. 
Mr.  Albert  Rankin. 

2.  Former  Pastors — 

Mr.  Isaac  R.  Diller,  Dr.  Grafton  Munroe,  Mr.  George 
Brinkerhoff,  Sr. 

3.  Finance — 

Mr.  John  E.  George,  Mr.  John  H.  Sikes,  Mr.  Thomas  C. 
Smith,  Mr.  George  Bunn. 

4.  History — 

Mrs.  Frank  Ide,  Mr.  O.  L.  Herndon,  Mrs.  W.  Edgar  Samp- 
son, Miss  Sallie  Brown,  Miss  Jeanette  Smith,  Miss  Elsie 
Logan,  Mrs.  St.  John  Wines,  Miss  Nelie  Hemenway. 

5.  Program — 

Dr.  John  T.  Thomas.  Dr.  C.  B.  Stuart,  Mrs.  H.  L.  Child. 

6.  Pageant — 

Mr.  J.  L.  Pickering.  Miss  Alice  Bunn,  Mrs.  R.  C.  Lanphier, 
Mr.  B.  L.  Catron. 

7.  Young  People's  Night — 

Mr.  Julian  Vallette,  Mr.  B.  F.  Cassiday,  Mr.  Harold  George, 
Mr.  Donald  0.  Needham.  Mr.  Roderick  Antrim.  Miss 
Louise  M.   Jacobs. 


8? 


OF    SPECIAL    INTEREST. 

A   beautiful   baptismal   fount   given   by   Mrs.    Janet  Waring   in 
memory  of  her  son  is  inscribed — 

WILLIAM  SHEPHARD  WARING,   1880—1916. 


An  elegant  Communion  table  given  by  the  wife  and  daughter  of 
Mr.  Geo.  B.  Hemenway,  elder  in  this  church  1880 — 1922. 


The  old  bell  which  is  not  very  accessible,  being  in  the  tower, 
was  given  by  the  young  ladies  of  the  church  in  1853.  It  has  for 
many  years  been  known  for  its  beautiful  tone. 


The  great  three-manual   Austin   organ    with     its    chimes    was 
erected  in  1915. 


Among  the  priceless  possessions  of  the  church  is  an  old  Com- 
munion Service,  given  by  the  ladies  of  1837  and  still  in  use. 


The  Memorial  Tablet  to  World  War  Soldiers  was  dedicated  No- 
vember 16,  1919.  The  dedication  address  was  delivered  by  the  Hon. 
Frank  O.  Lowden,  former  Governor  of  Illinois  and  still  a  member 
of  this  church. 


The  Classical  Memorial  Tablet  to  the  Former  Pastors  was 
dedicated  in  1923.  It  is  on  the  northwest  wall  and  is  admired  by 
all. 


Abraham  Lincoln — Family  Pew 
1852—1861 

This  pew  occupied  during  his  residence  in  Springfield,  111.,  by 

Abraham  Lincoln 

Presented  by  his  personal  friend, 

John  W.  Bunn 

First  Presbyterian  Church 

April   14,   1912. 


"The   Church  that   is  surrounded  by   Springfield" 

ORGANIZED    1828 
SPRINGFIELD,      ILLINOIS 

CAPITOL   AT   SEVENTH 

REV.   JOHN   T.   THOMAS.    D.    D.,   PASTOR 

Study  in  Church.  Phoiie  Main  4T79- 

Manse,  937  S.  Second  Phcne  Main  3382. 

Miss  Louise  Jacobs.   Church   Secretary 

Office  in  Church.  Seventh  and  Capitol. 

Phone.   Main  4719. 


OUR    MISSIONARIES 

Rev.  W.  A.   Freidinger 

Mrs.    Elizabeth   March   Freidinger 

Zahleh  Lebanon,    Syria 


The  flags  in  the  center  of  the  church  indicate  pew  occupied  by 
Abraham   Lincoln   and   family,   1852-1861. 

We  are  glad  to  have  visitors  sign  the  Visitors'  Register  in  the  vestibule. 


89 


THE  OFFICIARY— LEADERS  OF  ORGAXIZAITOXS 
THE   CHOIR— AS   DURING  "THE   CENTENNIAL" 


THE   SESSIOX 
Class  1928  Class  1929  Class  1930 

Isaac  R.  Diller,  Clerk       J.  L.  Pickering  J.   C.  Hanna 

H.  M.  Thrasher  Thomas  Condell  A.  H.  Rankin 

Harry  P.  Jones  Shelby  C.  Dorwin  Alex  Macpherson 

W.  Edgar  Sampson  Frank  McKelvey  C.   G.   Todd 

Julian  Valletta  E.  M.  Majors  C.  0.  Miller 

THE   BOARD  OF  DEACOXS 
Class  1928  Class  1929  Class  1930 

Benj.  F.  Cassiday  Robert  Hudson  E.   S.  Boyd 

E.  C.  Whittaker  C.  M.  Fox  A.  E.  Stcddard 

W.  I.  Woodworth  Herman  C.  Helmle  Ross  Weller 

Paul  Pickering  Harold  George  Dr.  Ogden  Munroe 

Robert  Butts  Dr.  C.  B.  Stuart  S.  J.  Krcgdahl 

THE  BOARD  OF  TRUSTEES 
Class  1928  Class  1929  Class  1930 

Alexander  Macpherson,  John  H.  Sikes  Clayton  Barber, 

Treasurer  Robert  Troxell  Chairman 

George  W.  Bunn  Emmett  V.  Postim  R.  C.  Lanphier 

Corwine  E.  Roach  B.  L.  Catron 

Assistant  to  Treasurer — Miss  Ella  Cunningham.     Office  in  church. 
THE  CHURCH  SCHOOL 
Director — Miss  Louise  Jacobs. 
Secretary — Miss  Bessie  Winters. 
Treasurer — Mr.  Robert  Hudson. 

Superintendent  Adult   Department — Mr.  C.   G.   Todd. 
Superintendent  Young  People's  Division — Mr.  Donald  O.  Xeedham. 
Superintendent  Junior  Department — Mrs.  J.  A.  Lindquist. 
Superintendent  Primary  Department — Mrs.  John  G.  Miller. 
Superintendent  Beginners  Department — Mrs.  John  H.  Sikes. 
Superintendent  Cradle  Roll — Mrs.  Frank  P.  Ide. 
Superintendent  Home  Department — Mrs.  Wirt  Edwards. 
THE  MEX'S  CLUB 
THE  WOMAX'S  AUXILIARY 
Mrs.  C.  D.  Wright,  President    (With  ten  circles) 
THE    WOMAX'S    MISSIONARY    SOCIETY 
Mrs.  John  T.  Thomas,  President 
THE   MIZPAH   CIRCLE  THE  DORCAS  CIRCLE 

Mrs.   Wilbur   C.   Hoover,   President       Miss  Lavinia  Smith,  President 

THE   LIGHT   BEARERS  THE  YOUNG  PEOPLE'S  SOCIETY 

Katie  Whittaker,  President  Thelma  Ramsey,  President 

JUNIOR-INTERMEDIATE   SOCIETY 
Virginia  Coffield,  President 
WESTMINSTER    CIRCLE  THE   BOY   SCOUTS   OF  AMERICA 

Mary  Louise  Whittaker.  President  James  B.  Cassiday,  Jr.,  Scoutmaster 
THE  GIRL  SCOUTS  OF  AMERICA 
Mrs.    Harold    Gibson,    Captain 
THE  MINISTRY  OF  MUSIC 
Miss  Helen  Xettleton — Organist-Director 
Mrs.  John  Black,  Soprano  Mr.  Charles  Fetzer.  Teno  ' 

Mrs.  Robert  White,  Contralto  Mr.  Clinton  Brown,  Baritone 

Violinist — Mr.  George  Killius 
Alexander  Black.  Sexton 


90 
(We  give  below  the  Invitation  mailed  January  19th,  1928.) 

I 


January,  1828  January,  1928 

THE  MINISTER  AND  OFFICERS 

Session,  Deacons  and  Trustees  together  with  the  entire  membership 
cordially  invite  you  to  share  with  them   in  celebrating 

The  One-Hundredth  Anniversary 

of  the  organization  of  the 
First  Presbyterian  Church 

Springfield,  Illinois 

Sunday,  January   Twenty-ninth  to  Sunday,  February  Fifth 
Both  inclusive 

They  are  especially  eager  to  have  all  members,  former  members 
and  friends  present  at  the 

Homecoming  Services 

Sunday,  January  Twenty-ninth,  Nineteen  Hundred   Twenty-eight 

Morning  and  Evening 

and  the 

Homecoming  Reception 

Monday,    January    Thirtieth,   Nineteen    Hundred    Twenty-eight 
at  Eight  o'clock  in  the  Evening 

IN  THE  CHURCH  PARLORS 


Committee  on  Invitation 
PROGRAM  WITHIN 


Mrs.  A.  E.  Prince 
Mrs.  L.  L.  Flinn 
Mr.  A.  H.  Rankin 
Mr.  Shelby  C.  Dorwin 


91 


JANUARY    TWENTY-NINTH— HOMECOMING    SUNDAY. 
The  Rev.  Donald  C.  MacLeod,  D.  D.,  of  Omaha,  Neb.,  the  only  living 
former  pastor,  is  special  preacher.     Dr.   MacLeod   was  installed   Septem- 
ber, 1913,  and  resigned  December,  1917. 

MONDAY,   JANUARY   THIRTIETH— HOMECOMING  RECEPTION— 

8:00  P.  M. 
Dr.  and  Mrs.  MacLeod,  together  with   the  families   and   descandants 
of  all  the  former  pastors  are  to  be  guests  of  honor. 

TUESDAY,  JANUARY  THIRTY-FIRST— WOMAN'S  DAY. 
During  the  entire  hundred  years,  the  Firs.  Church  has  been  blessed 
with  a  wonderful  company  of  gifted,  consecrated  women.  The  program 
will  include  an  afternoon  tea  with  papers  and  reminiscences  and  an 
evening  service  open  to  all  with  address  by  the  Rev.  John  T.  Stone, 
D.  D.,  former  moderator  of  the  General  Assembly,  beloved  minister  of 
Fourth  Church,  Chicago. 

WEDNESDAY,   FEBRUARY  FIRST— CENTENNIAL   DINNER— 

6:30   P.   M. 

Greetings  from  "Our  Colonies."  North  Sangamon,  Westminster, 
Third,  Fifth  and  Clementine  Memorial  Presbyterian  Churches.  The  Coun- 
cil of  Churches.  Our  older  members.  Stereopticon  pictures  of  seven 
former  ministers,  church  buildings,  etc. 

Congregational  dinner  for  which  reservations  must  be  made. 

THURSDAY,    FEBRUARY    SECOND— HISTORICAL    PAGEANT— 

8:00  P.  M. 
This  will  be  given  in  the  spacious  auditorium  of  the  Springfield  High 
School.     The  organization,  history,  and  work  of  the  church  will  be  por- 
trayed in  a  series  of  episodes.     Admission  free,  public  invited. 

FRIDAY,  FEBRUARY  THIRD— "YOUNG   PEOPLE'S   DAY." 
"The  Hope   of  the  Future" — "The  Church   of  To-morrow." 
The  finest  body  of  young  people  the  church  ever  had  are  the  Modern 
Young   People.     Miss   Mary   Murphy,    Church   Secretary,    October,    1920 — 
December,  1925,  will  speak  briefly. 

Address — The   Rev.    James    I.    Vance,    D.    D.,     ex-moderator     of     the 
Presbyterian  General  Assembly,  writer,  traveler,    lecturer,    minister    for 
20  years  at  First  Church,  Nashville,  Tenn. 
Dinner  6:30  P.  M. 

SATURDAY,   FEBRUARY   FOURTH. 
The  Rev.  Robert  E.  Speer,  D.  D.,  moderator  of  the  General  Assembly, 
Executive  Secretary  of  Foreign  Missions. 

SUNDAY,    FEBRUARY    FIFTH— HISTORICAL    SUNDAY. 
Sunday   morning,   Dr.    Thomas   will    deliver   the   Historical   Address. 
Sunday  afternoon,   4:30,   it  is  planned    to    have    a    Union    Communion 
Service  of  all  the  ministers  and  churches  in  the  Presbytery. 


T  IS  NOT  MLKP1JY  RW  TO' DAY,  BUT  ):OK  ALL 
TIME  TO  GOWK,  THAT  Yvi-  SHOULD  rwnmVffiE 
I  OR  OUK  CHILDREN'S   CH1LDKRK  THAT  GRLAT 

AND  I  RJ  L  GOY!-RKM)rKT  WHICH  V. 

L-NJOY)  n  A I  1    OUK  1  iYRS" 


hi 


93 


The  beautiful  Marble  Tablet  on  the  northwest  wall  of  the  Audi- 
torium is  dedicated  to  the  seven  former  Pastors  of  the  Church. 
This  was  placed  in  January,  1923.     The  inscriptions  are  as  follows: 

FIRST 
PRESBYTERIAN 

CHURCH 
ORGANIZED  1828 


PASTORS 

John  G.  Bergen,  D.D. 

1828—1848 

*  *     * 

James  Smith,  D.D. 
1849—1856 

*  *     * 

John  H.  Brown,  D.D. 

1857—1864 

*  *     * 

Frederick  H.  Wines,  D.D. 
1865—1869 

.  *     *     * 

James  A.  Reed,  D.D. 
1870—1888 

Thomas  D.  Logan,  D.D. 
1888—1913 


Donald  C.  MacLeod,  D.D. 
1913—1917 

*     *     * 

John  T.  Thomas,  D.D. 
1918— 


94 


95 


CHURCH  SECRETARIES. 


Mary  H.  Murphy  1920—1926. 


Louise  M.  Jacobs  192< 


96 


TWENTY    MEMBERS    ENROLLED    OVER    FIFTY    YEARS    AGO. 

Joining  First  Presbyterian  Church  June  19,  1858,  Miss  Susan  P. 
Chenery  now  of  Los  Angeles,  California,  is  the  oldest  living  member. 

Following  are  other  members  of  the  Church,  living  today  who 
joined  at  least  fifty  years  ago: 

Mrs  Mary  Coe  Sims 

March  3,  1866— City. 

Mrs  Susan  E.  Hemenway 

June  3,  1866— City. 

Mrs.  Anne  M.  Perkins 

June  3,  1866— City. 

Mrs.  Hattie  B.  Harts 

June  1,  1867— Chicago. 

Miss  Virginia  S.  Hackney 

February  24,  1868— City. 

Samuel  H.  Gehlman 

January  16,  1870— St.  Louis,  Missouri. 

R.  Francis  Ruth 

January  14,  1872— LaJolla,  California. 

Mrs.  Mary  B.  Harlan 

October  3,  1873— City. 

Mrs.  Elizabeth  Brainard 

September  11,  1874— New  York  City. 

John  Howe  Brown 

March  12,  1877— City. 

Harmon  Brown 
March  12,  1877— City. 

Shelby  C.  Dorwin 

March  12,  1877— City. 

Miss  Lillie  Fisher 

March  12,  1877— Ames,  Iowa. 

Frederick  0.  Fox 

March  12,  1877— Peoria. 

Mrs.  Annie  Lamb 

March  12,  1877— City. 

Mrs.  Alice  Shepherd  Mitchell 

March  12,  1877— City. 

Charles  H.  Sutton 

March  12,  1877— City. 

Mrs.  Ella  Susan  Talbott 

March  12,  1877— City. 

Mrs.  Addie  Warren 

March  12,  1877— City. 

Miss  Jennie  Hamer  Craft 

September  1,  1878— City. 

I.  R.  Diller,  Clerk. 


97 


THE    FIFTH    GENERATION    WAS    REPRESENTED    BY    THREE 
FAMILIES  AS  FOLLOWS: 

Betty   Latham   Broadwell   on   two   sides. 

Catherine  Tabor — Wife   of  Philip   C.   Latham. 

Olive  Priest — Wife  of  George  C.  Latham. 

Olive  Latham — Wife  of  Stewart  Broadwell. 

Betty  Bradburn — Wife  of  Norman  M.  Broadwell. 

Betty   Latham    Broadwell — A   great,   great,    grand-daughter. 

Ann  Foster — Wife  of  Washington  lies. 

Virginia  lies — Wife  of  Norman  M.  Broadwell. 

Olive  Latham — Wife  of  Stewart  Broadwell. 

Betty  Bradburn — Wife  of  Norman  M.  Broadwell. 

Betty   Latham   Broadwell — A  great,   great,   grand-daughter. 


Five  generations  of  the  Bunn  Family  have  been  connected  with 
the  Church. 

Sarah  Irwin  Ferguson. 

Elizabeth  Ferguson  Bunn. 

George  W.  Bunn. 

George   W.    Bunn,    Jr. 

Sarah  Bunn  and  George  W.  Bunn,  3rd. 


Henrietta  Herndon,  daughter  of  Dr.  R.  F.  Herndon,  Richard 
Fleetwood  Herndon,  his  son  represent  the  Fifth  Generation  of  Ann 
Foster. 

Ann  Foster — WTife  of  Washington  lies. 

Cordelia  lies — Wife  of  Obed  Lewis. 

Kate  Lewis — Wife  of  R.  F.  Herndon. 

Dr.  R.  F.  Herndon — Son  of  Kate  Lewis  Herndon. 

Henrietta  Herndon — Daughter  of  Dr.  R.  F.  Herndon. 

Richard  Fleetwood  Herndon — Son  of  Dr.  R.  F.  Herndon. 


98 


Mrs.  John  T.  Thomas, 
'The  Charming  Mistress  of  the  Manse. 


99 


Robert  E.  Speer,  D.  D., 

Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly,  Executive  Secretary  of  For- 
eign Missions;  writer,  traveler.  Dr.  Speer  delivered  an  address 
Saturday  evening,  February  the  4th. 


100 


The  Rev.  James  I.  Vance,  D.  D., 

Former  Moderator  of  the  Presbyterian  General  Assembly 
(South);  writer,  traveler,  lecturer,  minister  for  20  years  at  First 
Church,  Nashville,  Tenn.  Dr.  Vance  addressed  the  Young  People, 
Friday  evening,  February  3rd. 


101 


The  Rev.  Johx  Timothy  Stone,  D.  D. 


Former  Moderator  of  the  General  Assembly,  beloved  minister  of 
Fourth  Church,  Chicago.  Dr.  Stone  delivered  an  address  Tuesday 
evening,  January  31st,  in  the  Church  Auditorium. 


102 


The  Editor  is  indebted  to  Mr.  and  Mrs.  S.  A.  Oldfield, 

111  South  Fifth  Street  (Photographers),  for  a  number 

of  photographs  and  pictures  used  in  this  booklet. 


UNIVERSITY  OF  ILLINOIS-URBANA 
2,8„8E107N7SiR0EDTH  ANNIVERSARY  OF  THE  ORG 


3  0112  025277549 


